Teachers tell autistic girl to remove bracelet given to her by dead dad

05 October 2023 , 10:32

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Year 11 student Hayley Bouwer-Oliver with Mum, Shereen Bouwer (Image: Argus/Sussex News and Pictures)

The mother of an autistic schoolgirl is furious that teachers asked her to remove a special bracelet gifted by her dead dad.

Year 11 student Hayley Bouwer-Oliver usually wears a bracelet given to her by her father just before he tragically died aged 45 after suffering bacterial meningitis in 2019. She also wears an anxiety ring to stop her scratching her skin until it bleeds. Mum Shereen Bouwer said Peacehaven Community School allowed Hayley to wear the bracelet and ring last year but things changed "out of the blue" on Monday.

Shereen explained: "Hayley is met by a teacher when she arrives at school and is taught in a specialist classroom due to her fear of large groups. But on Monday, she was taken to the school hall where all other students were having their uniform inspected." Hayley was told to remove her bracelet and to remove her ring, though the headteacher said she could wear it underneath her school shirt on a necklace from the following day. "How is she supposed to wear the ring under her shirt and tie? It doesn't make sense," said Shereen.

Mum, Shereen Bouwer, said the school allowed Hayley to wear the bracelet and ring last year but things suddenly changed (Argus/Sussex News and Pictures)

Hayley's sister Erin was also told to remove her own bracelet and did so "to avoid confrontation". Shereen said a teacher told Erin in front of Hayley: "Well done for making the correct decision." Hayley was then threatened with isolation with a large group of students who had failed to arrive in the correct uniform. She responded by locking herself in a toilet cubicle.

Hayley said: "I was scared and anxious. I trusted my teacher a lot but they took me into a situation that I was not comfortable with." Notes held by the school say that Hayley finds communicating with adults incredibly difficult unless it is a trusted adult, she does not like to be around large numbers of people and her anxiety causes significant barriers to attending school.

Meanwhile, the school's own policy says: "Building self-esteem occurs inside and outside the classroom. Every student at PCS is valued. Our community celebrates individual style and skills. We will strive to ensure that our differences do not become barriers to participation. We recognise that we cannot achieve true equality of opportunity and outcome for all by treating everyone the same. We have due regard to ensure that persons with a protected characteristic are not negatively impacted as a result of our decision or policy making."

Shereen has stopped her children from going to school after the incident, to protect their mental health. This latest incident follows claims a teacher told 100 girls to change or go home in a row over the length of their skirts.

Rachel Hagan