Anger as school forces children with disabilities to carry lanyards

Children with hidden disabilities are being 'humiliated' and 'embarrassed' at being forced to carry special lanyards by their school, parents said yesterday.

Pupils with special educational needs at Werneth High School in Stockport have been told they may be disciplined if they do not have a sunflower lanyard with them at all times.

According to the headteacher, the edict is aimed at encouraging 'tolerance' and help 'students with differences to feel a sense of belonging and identity'.

However outraged parents say children with hidden conditions are being 'outed' to their peers as a result, suffering embarrassment and even bullying.

Leigh Jones, whose 12-year-old daughter Brooke is neurodivergent, said: 'The children's choice is being taken away.

'It's an invasion of their privacy and I can't believe it's legal for the school to do this.

'When my daughter arrived back after half-term she was told she wasn't allowed in unless she wore a lanyard.

'It's embarrassing for them.'

Debbie Stevenson, whose neurodivergent daughter Levii, 15, also goes to the school, added: 'Children with hidden disabilities shouldn't be forced to wear labels in 2024 - it's humiliating.'

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Jennie Fabri is keeping her 12-year-old son Finlay away from school because he was targeted by other children after being made to wear the lanyard.

'Some of the children didn't know he was autistic, loads of kids were asking him questions and saying things about him,' she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Parents say that after they complained, SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) pupils were permitted to conceal the lanyards rather than having them on show - but 'the damage has already been done'.

In a message seen by the Daily Mail, headteacher David Goddard says the move is aimed at ensuring that 'students with differences' are not 'unfairly challenged for non-compliance with uniform or other expectations'.

He adds that 'continued breaches of our approach based on defiance and not vulnerability or need may result in disciplinary action'.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme is designed as a 'discreet' signal for people with 'non-visible' conditions to indicate that they need extra support while out in public.

Its organisers have written to the parents telling them: 'Wearing the sunflower is always the wearer's choice. It must never be used in a mandatory manner.'

Stockport councillor Christine Carrigan told the LDRS that as the mother of a child with ADHD she was 'appalled that children are being forced to identify themselves in this way'.

'We absolutely should not be suspending children for their refusal to comply with this,' she added.

Werneth School is run by the Education Learning Trust which said in a statement: 'We are currently working alongside the school to fully investigate the issues raised by the parents.

'This will include a review of current practices used by the school to ensure they align with the ELT ethos that promotes an environment where all pupils feel safe and valued.'

In its most recent Ofsted report, published in January, Werneth School was rated 'inadequate', with 'poor behaviour' and insufficient 'support' for SEND pupils.