Primary school's forest session left girl burned

A B school's “catalogue of failures” left a seven-year-old girl with severe burns on her leg.

Margaret McMillan Primary School, on Scotchman Road in Bradford, held a forest school session that involved making hot chocolate with kelly camping kettles - a water flask that quickly boils water.

As schoolchildren stood around the fire pit area, the cork from the kettle popped out due to pressure build-up and splashed boiling water over a pupil.

The incident left the young girl in agony with scalds and blistering on various locations of her leg and foot.

A report published by Ossett-based OJ Health and Safety Solutions Ltd. highlighted a number of issues that put school pupils at “moderate” risk.

The school said it is “taking this incident very seriously” and it has "reviewed our policies and procedures". 

The health and safety report said: “At the time of the incident there was a forest school session taking place.

"The session included the use of kelly-kettles which were lit within the fire pit area but not on the designated fire light area.

"The children were all in very close proximity to the kettles. The cork from the kettle popped out due to pressure build up which also caused boiling hot water to eject from the kettle landing on the child causing burns.

Injuries to the seven year old girl's leg and feet (Image: UGC) “There are two risk assessments for the activity and none of the controls have been adhered to.

“The cork was left in the kettle which caused pressure to build, children were running around the fire pit in what can only be described as chaotic manner, fire was left unattended with children running around, fire had been lit on the wooden chippings not on the designated gravelled fire pit, the fires were lit in extremely windy conditions, children were not supervised properly during the activity, gloves not being worn while handling the kettles. 

“There were two classes merged together which hadn’t been authorised meaning the number of children in the area was uncontrollable.”

The report adds: “Two classes had been merged together which meant there was 56 children in total. This had not been authorised.

“Although there were two L3 Forest School Practitioners and trained first aiders on site there was a catalogue of failures leading to the event which puts into question the competence of those involved.

"One of the statements details a first aid-trained person sending another member of staff for an ice pack for the burns which shouldn’t be the first response, the burn should have immediately been run under cold water.

Injuries to the seven year old girl's leg and feet are starting to heal (Image: UGC) “First aid wasn’t given immediately at the time of the incident, it was a long time after which will have made the injury worse. No cold water was applied until at least 30 minutes after the incident.

“When the incident happened, a teacher took the injured pupil to one side and left the fire unattended with pupils all around, this then set the wood chip on fire. A few minutes later the teacher realised and extinguished the fire.

“The statements given by certain members are false i.e. first aid wasn’t given immediately, there was no sign of a burn where other statements say blisters and red, first aid kit not outside but statement said it was.”

Injuries to the leg and foot of Sunia Mukhtar's daughter (Image: UGC) The pupil’s mum, Sunia Mukhtar, said the incident had traumatised her daughter. She has since moved her children to another school.

Sunia said: “You leave your kids in a school setting thinking they’re going to be safe. Knowing that all these things were happening right beneath you it plays on your mind.

“She was in so much pain. I was on the train when my husband rang me. I could hear her wailing. 

“She was constantly crying, she couldn’t have a bath. I was breaking down three times a day.

“My daughter has nightmares, sometimes it’s a volcano in school, sometimes she’s burned and left alone. I’m stressed as a parent. 

“I lost my trust. My anxiety’s through the roof now.

“I didn’t want my child to go through this trauma. A burn injury is for life. It’s ruined my child’s childhood.”

Speaking about the incident, that happened in February this year, headteacher Richard Walker said: “The safety and well-being of our pupils is our utmost priority, and we are taking this incident very seriously.

"We have reviewed our policies and procedures in consultation with external experts. Since the incident, we have worked closely with the family and child to provide support.

“Our commitment is to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for every child at our school.”