Children’s Commissioner condemns Coleraine attack
Thursday, 11 September 2008
One of the pupils at Sandelford School reflects on the damage at the school at the weekend.
NORTHERN Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Patricia Lewsley, has condemned criminal attacks on a Coleraine school catering for children with learning difficulties.
At the weekend, Sandelford Special School was attacked for the fourth time in two weeks - a situation which has caused damage to school property, buses and classrooms. Last Tuesday night up to £5000 worth of damage was caused to buses at the school on Rugby Road in Coleraine. Then last Sunday, vandals again broke into a play area, smashing a wendy-house, hurling a table from a first floor balcony and smearing faeces on classroom windows. Staff have been forced to keep 140 pupils indoors until the cleanup operation is completed.
“The message needs to go out that this criminal behaviour must be stopped," said Ms Lewsley. "Sandelford, like many such schools across Northern Ireland, provides an invaluable service.
“Sandelford provides educational opportunities to vulnerable children, and supports not only their development, but is a resource that helps these children live with their families."
The Commissioner has contacted the school offering her support and will be visiting Sandelford Special School next week to meet the children.
“I want to make sure that despite these attacks it is clear that the community across Northern Ireland supports Sandelford Special School's pupils, principal, parents, teachers and staff."
Meanwhile, the principal of the school has called on vandals to come and see the consequences of their actions.
Principal, Sharon Tennant said children were missing vital elements of the curriculum focusing on integration in the community. "Play-based learning is a huge part of the curriculum. The children's emotional well being is being put at risk," said Mrs Tennant.
“We are having to go through the area very thoroughly. Some of the children are at a very early stage and a lot of what they find goes straight into their mouths. The consequences are much more far reaching in an environment like this."
Mrs Tennant said she hoped the vandals would think twice if they could see the work of staff and pupils and she made this direct appeal: "Think about what you are doing, it might be a night's fun for you but you are causing a lot of distress.
“Please come and see the type of people we are working with, and look at the disruption you are causing to these very special young adults."
Earlier in the week the North East Education and Library Board removed buses from the premises after they were attacked for the third time in one month.
Staff and parents rallied round to get pupils to school while the vehicles remained off the road. The board estimates the repair bill will be £5000.
“When they were attacking the buses some of children were not able to get to school. There is a knock on effect because some of them have severe learning difficulties and they operate on a routine.
“When they are out of their routine it cause huge problems at home - one child was so distressed he had a screaming temper tantrum. These are the type of effects you wouldn't get in a mainstream school."
Mrs Tenant said some parents missed work to stay at home with their children but she praised a local taxi firm which loaned vehicles adapted for wheel chairs.
A PSNI spokesperson said police recovered a number of items at the scene, which will be subjected to forensic examination.
“We will be paying particular attention to the area and will deal firmly and swiftly with anyone found damaging vehicles or other school property," he said.
“Witnesses to the incidents or anyone who can help to identify the culprits are asked to contact the police at Coleraine."
