'They are supposed to have a duty of care' - Mum removes son from school over sunflower lanyard rule

A mother has kept her son away from a Stockport school where children with learning disabilities have been told to carry sunflower lanyards.

Jennie Fabri is a parent whose son has autism and attends Werneth School on Harrytown road, which is part of the Education Learning Trust (ELT).

Ms Fabri said she found out about the rule this week when he "burst through the door" upset after being targeted by other children who questioned him about his lanyard.

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Pupils in the academy school "didn't know he was autistic", she told the Manchester Evening News (M.E.N). "Loads of kids were asking him questions and saying things about him."

Emails from the school, seen by the M.E.N, stated that the lanyard can be worn or concealed but must be shown to staff when asked. Failure to follow the policy could result in "disciplinary action," the message warned.

Ms Fabri said she has contacted the school asking to find a way forward, but will not send her son back until she is confident he will be safe. She added: "I will keep him at home until we get an update, they are supposed to have a duty of care to my son but they have not even rang me back.

"I'm not going to keep chasing them, personally I don't even want him to be there now, but he needs an education. He'll remain at home until the school works with me to be able to accommodate his needs."

The concerned parent previously said it was "disgusting" that children with special educational needs or disabilities [SEND] were being "forced to comply" with a rule to carry sunflower lanyards at school.

Leigh Jones, from the local Brinnington SEND group, said this week that she has been inundated with messages from other parents who were worried about the school's sunflower lanyard policy, and say they have kept their children at home because of the policy.

Ms Jones's 12-year-old daughter also attends the school and is neurodivergent, but "feels embarrassed that she has to produce this lanyard" showing she has a disability.

Another concerned parent named Debbie said her 15-year-old neurodiverse daughter attends Werneth School and was told to carry a sunflower lanyard.

Debbie said parents are supportive of the overall idea which the sunflower lanyard represents, but added that it should be a choice to wear it, rather than being imposed on children.

She said: "It makes me feel quite upset that these kids are being outed [for having a disability], no one would want to have to carry their medical records around their neck."

The ELT said it is investigating the issues raised by the parents.

A spokesperson added: "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."

Werneth School was contacted for comment.

Autisk - an autism and disability support group in Stockport - has warned that the school's policy could lead to a rise in bullying.

"We at Autisk agree with the families at Werneth school about this, and agree it isn’t making the school inclusive at all," the organisation said in a statement posted online.

"In fact, it’s 'branding' our vulnerable young people in an environment where bullying happens all the time. This is opening the doors to even more bullying and we hope Werneth removes this policy."

Stockport council said it is in contact with the ELT over the situation at Werneth School.

A spokesperson said: "This school is an academy and as soon as we were made aware of the situation we contacted the trust to establish what had happened and how the school planned on working with the young people and their families who have raised very valid concerns.

"Our priority is to ensure that all children in the borough receive the best possible support.”