A child diagnosed with autism found herself unintentionally trapped inside a sports shed at her school during a scorching hot day. The incident occurred at Manning Gardens Public School in Taree, Australia, when Ruby, an 8-year-old student, went missing during school pickup. Her father, Matthew Everingham, and his partner Brooke, realized something was amiss when they couldn’t locate Ruby among the other children lining up.
After some commotion, Ruby was eventually discovered in the shed by a special needs aide, visibly upset and in tears. According to The Daily Telegraph, the staff member admitted to inadvertently locking Ruby in the shed for approximately five minutes. Matthew expressed his frustration, suggesting that Ruby likely sought refuge in the shed during an outdoor activity but was locked inside.
Matthew highlighted the lack of air conditioning or ventilation in the shed, emphasizing the discomfort Ruby must have experienced in the sweltering 31C heat. He criticized the school for failing to promptly notify them of Ruby’s disappearance and mentioned that the NSW Department of Education intervened by relocating Ruby to a different school.
A spokesperson from the NSW Department of Education acknowledged the incident, apologized to the family, and assured that steps had been taken to enhance student safety protocols at the school. The statement emphasized the school’s commitment to student welfare and mentioned providing counseling services to the family.
The Mirror attempted to contact Manning Gardens Public School for their input on the matter.
