Scots mum's fury after son allegedly 'cut lip with scissors' at nursery - Daily Record

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Scots mum's fury after son allegedly 'cut lip with scissors' at nurseryJodie McMahon has pulled her son out of the council-run facility after the incident.CommentsNewsLee Dalgetty and

John-Paul Clark15:17, 23 Feb 2025Jodie took her son out of the nursery. (Image: Supplied) A Scots mum has pulled her youngest son from a council-run nursery after claiming he cut himself

with scissors.

East Lothian woman Jodie McMahon has two sons, both with additional support needs, who she feels have 'come to harm' at the educational facility. Her youngest son, whose name she has chosen

to withhold, started nursery at Pinkie St Peter's Primary School in January.

‌ She has decided to pull him out only weeks later. Her older son, six-years-old, has secured a place at a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school, which she had to 'fight tooth and nail for'

after he left a mainstream school, reports Edinburgh Live.

‌ Jodie said she feels staff are being 'stretched far too thin' and insists that practitioners and teachers are ‘doing their best’, and need to be better supported by the council.

East Lothian Council said the safety and wellbeing off all children in their care is of 'paramount importance'. They welcomed families to 'work constructively' with them over their concerns.

Jodie alleges her son was left with a cut lip. (Image: Supplied)Article continues below

Jodie's concerns began back in 2022 when she claims her eldest son was found 'alone in the garden', came home 'soaking wet' and one occasion when he was in primary one, 'covered in his own

faeces'. Feeling like 'nobody was understanding', she pushed for one-to-one support - which improved the boy's experience hugely.

After he secured a place in an SEN school, Jodie's youngest son, three-years-old, then started at Pinkie St Peter's. He had 'one thing after another', before the incident with a pair of

scissors became the 'final straw'.

‌ Jodie said: "Both of my children have now come to physical harm. It's just not good enough. My eldest had quite a few problems.

"He was left in the garden on his own, he came home with massive bruises that were unexplained, he came soaking wet, he came back with no personal care done for a full day.

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‌ "When he went into primary one he came home covered in his own faeces. He’d come home having masked all day and then releasing when he got home. He would physically harm himself,

physically harm me, getting distraught.

"As a parent, watching your child go through that is just the worst thing. When I brought that up I was told he was fine when he was in the setting. It felt like nobody was understanding

what was going on."

After pushing to get her eldest the support he needed, his last few months at nursery 'much better'.

‌Jodie's two sons. (Image: Supplied) She continued: "It helped so much, his last wee stretch was so positive.

"That's because the staff got the support they needed, which I fought for. He was able to participate in the classroom, and if something was too much for him he could get a wee break.

Before, if he was struggling he basically just had to deal.

‌ "It's like things have to fail before something is done about it. The policy of the council is getting it right, at the right time, for every child. Well I'm sorry, but they haven't done

that for my children."

When her eldest went into primary school, the mum had yet another fight ahead of her as she tried to get him a place in an SEN school. In November 2024 he left Pinkie St Peter's, and he's

now thriving in his new setting. Jodie added: "What a difference. He's participating in classes, he comes home happy and regulated.

"His teacher is amazing. The minute I walked into that school I just knew he would be looked after. I'm not sitting wondering, will he escape today? Will he hurt himself today? Is hanging

off something in the garden?

‌ "He used to spend most of the day out of the classroom, missing out on things and not getting what he needs. Not anymore."

When it was time for her youngest son to start nursery, Jodie was hoping things might be different. He started at Pinkie St Peter's on January 13. She told us: "It's just been one thing

after another.

"He was left in a sensory cove on his own. The environment is so busy the staff thought he was getting his nappy changed.

‌ "I understand the staffing issues, it's a high stress job. Last week, on February 12, is when he managed to get a hold of a pair of scissors and make his way to the water tray.

"He climbed in and cut his mouth. For me, it was the final straw."

Jodie decided to pull him from the nursery, feeling she 'couldn't bring him somewhere he wouldn't be safe'. She continued: "He was only going in for a few hours in the morning every day.

‌ "The day he cut his lip he was in from 9.30am until midday. What situations could he have been in if he had been there longer? I picked him up a few weeks ago and he'd bumped his cheek,

but nobody knew why.

"I completely understand why things happen, but why does nobody know what happened and why was nobody watching him? If I could get some answers it might be a different story."

Jodie is now calling on East Lothian Council to address staffing issues, and demands the 'system is broken'.

‌ "None of this a reflection on staff. I know they're doing their best," she continued.

"I know for a fact they take these things home and it weighs on them. I've asked the council how my additional needs child is being looked after if the practitioners have eight children to

keep an eye on. How are they splitting themselves eight ways? All children are important and the staff are important, what needs to happen?"

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‌ Jodie is now split between finding another mainstream school for her youngest, which she branded 'Russian roulette' or pushing for him to get a place in a SEN school, which she said 'could

take ages'. She added: "I want everybody to be safe. The staff are the ones who are stretched thin and overworked and that’s why things like this happened.

"No matter what a child’s needs are, they’re getting ignored. The quiet children as well, so many are getting left behind because so many issues are being swept under the rug.

"This isn’t just about me and my children, this is about advocating for all kids. They deserve better."

‌ An inspection report on Pinkie St Peter's Primary school from the Care Inspectorate completed in February 2024 branded the 'care, play and learning' at the facility 'adequate' (with a

score of four).

They said the setting was 'good' (three), the leadership received a rating of four and the staff also received four. The scale goes from one, which is unsatisfactory - to six, which is

excellent.

One staff member anonymously told the Care Inspectorate at the time: "We have a whole new leadership team and feel that we are working as best as we can to achieve the best for our learners"

Article continues below A spokesperson for East Lothian Council told us: “The safety and wellbeing of all children in our care is of paramount importance to us. All of our settings meet our

legal and Care Inspectorate requirements for staffing ratios.

"Teams are always willing to discuss any concerns with families and to work constructively with them to support their child to have a positive early learning and childcare experience.”