New school for expelled girl, aged 5

Dan McMullan

November 16, 2006

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Tamara Howard

TAMARA Howard, the girl expelled from school at just five years old over claims of violent behaviour, is back in education - just weeks after the M.E.N. highlighted her case.

Tamara, who lives with her mum in Withington, is one of the youngest girls in the country to be permanently excluded from school after being accused of a string of incidents, including attacks on her teachers.

Tamara, one of the youngest in her year, spent more than five weeks at home after being removed from Old Moat Primary School in Withington on September 20.

She was taken back on a temporary basis by her old nursery school, also called Old Moat, at the end of October and education bosses have now offered her a full-time place at a specialist support school in Wythenshawe.

Mum Angela said: "She has missed out on a lot of education at a crucial time in her life and I just hope she will be able to make up the lost ground.

"I know she can be a handful but I still believe Old Moat Primary failed her; they didn't give her a chance to change."

Tamara was temporarily excluded on September 20 for 15 days and then permanently excluded over a number of allegations about attacks on teachers and other pupils. Head teacher Merna McVeigh excluded Tamara over concerns she could "seriously harm the education and welfare of pupils and others".

On one occasion she was said to have attacked six teachers in one day and following another alleged attack on a teacher just weeks later she was expelled.

Education chiefs have now found her a place at a specialist support school which will be able to assess her educational needs.

A council spokesman said: "Arrangements have been made for Tamara to start at a new school which better suits her."

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Five-year-old expelled from school

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Ms D, Manchester (16/11/2006 at 11:50)

No, Mrs Howard, the school didn't fail her - you did ! Sick and tired of people blaming everyone but themselves.

Ex Primary School Teacher, Stockport (16/11/2006 at 13:47)

Again and again the MEN infer that it is the School's fault that the child is a little innocent. It is the parents duty to teach them good behavior, manners etc.
I am fed up with all the 'Teacher Battering' your paper hands out, it is about time credit was given to teachers, after all they can only work wonders if the child wants to learn and behaves unlike the child in question.

Lucy Horan, Manchester (16/11/2006 at 13:58)

I don't think the school failed her at all, you cannot allow any child the chance to ruin other childrens education, which clearly Tamara was.
Thumbs up to the school and lets hope all parents learn that a school is there to offer education not discapline that parents should be enforcing.

Louise, Ashton (16/11/2006 at 15:25)

what is so worrying is the parents of these kids mentality, i.e. the school failed her. has the mother no sense of embarrassment at her own failings? fancy letting her little "darling" get to 5 years old without tackling her behaviour and then having the gall to blame the school for its shortcomings. Ms Howard would be the first to shout if anyone interrupted her life, yet she allows her daughter to disrupt everyone elses! about time society stopped pandering to these sort of people. maybe if the parents knew how to take responsibility for themselves the kids might, but I won't hold my breath!

Anon, Anon (16/11/2006 at 15:50)

I have a child who is four. He is currently being accessed for ADHD and Asbergers. I removed him from his school at the start of october due to his behaviour. Since this date i have found out that the school had been having him observed by outside agencys but didn't think that they neesded to tell me. If this girl has a similar need to my son then hopefully her new school will help her deal with her problems. I just hope that i can find a school for my son so that he can continue with his education.

A Mum, Manchester (16/11/2006 at 17:18)

I agree the school didn't fail this child, being the mother of a 5 year old myself I have taught her respect for her teachers and feel that this you girl has been failed in her home surroundings. I certainly would want a child removing from my daughters school if I thought my daughter and the other pupils and teaches could come to any harm.

tom, wilmslow (16/11/2006 at 20:24)

this is what has been missing in schools for 40 years if we did this with all the schools maybe we could get back to showing some respect and not kids with the tail wagging the dog i also agee with lucy ms d and the teachers if the parents took some more time with the kids and not blaming others for there problems in life but i suppose i may as well talk to the wall

Ann, Burnage (17/11/2006 at 14:58)

Aw - the poor mite (sic)!

In what way has the school failed her? What education has been missed?

When children are so poorly behaved that they disrupt others education and attack teachers then they simply cannot be taught! had she been in school she would (through NO fault of the schools) not have received an effective education.

School is not free childcare! Teachers are there to teach children not to babysit tearaways!

blue jewels, manchester (17/11/2006 at 15:55)

I quite agree with Mrs D and others, why do people blame everyone else but themselves, when I was 5 years old I was almost scared of my teachers, they were seen as being such authoritarians, to be respected not answered back to, even my teenage children now wouldnt be as rude as to be excluded. I think she is vey cute looking but is it just me or do you think she looks a proper little madam??

Colin W, Stockholm (19/11/2006 at 18:16)

The MEN should be ashamed. Just think of the education of the other children being disrupted because of this one child. Would they have made such a big deal of it if she was black and from a single parent household??? Or will the MENU just censor this post like many others

Michelle, Manchester (18/01/2007 at 22:48)

It is possible the child has a behavier problem, my nephew has recently been diagnosed with FACS (fetal anti convulsion syndrome) because of the medication his mother was given for epilepsy during her pregnancy. We thought for a couple of years he was just an unruly child who seemed to misbehave more often than not. It seems this is not the case, now we are aware of it and he is receiving the attention he needs from the doctors he is doing brilliant at main-stream school.

Man on the Moon, Moon! (19/01/2007 at 13:51)

FACHS, theres a new one. Everything is a disorder these days! AD&D is another invented illness used as an excuse for the badly behaved. I know I will get slated for my comments, but, does everything have to be down to something else or an illness! Cant a kid be just down right unrully and naughty?

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