A MOTHER claims her five-year-old son's arm was broken by school bullies who are picking on him because of a severe speech defect.
Connor Hutt was taken to hospital after being pushed over and attacked in the school playground.
His mother Claire Howard says another pupil jumped on him, causing his arm to break.
She says the horrific attack is the latest in a long line of injuries he has suffered at Newington Academy in west Hull, and is now calling for him to be protected during play times, when the injuries happen.
Connor's speech problem has yet to be diagnosed, but he begins most of his words with Ds or Ws, and is being picked on for it, his mother says.
She said: "Most of the injuries have been bruises on the legs or arms where he has been kicked or pushed into something.
"They know he can't communicate with the teachers."
Miss Howard, of Tyne Street, west Hull, says he has also come home with a lump on his head, where Connor told her his head was banged against the floor.
She said: "I asked him how he had done it and he said he had his face hit the floor.
"I told his teachers if this carries on he is going to end up in hospital. I am so frustrated."
Her fears came true when she received a call from the school to say Connor could not lift his arm.
Miss Howard, 27, said: "When I asked him what happened he said he was pushed, and when he fell forwards he landed on his arms and someone had jumped on his back.
"His arm gave way under him."
Connor's arm was so swollen doctors initially could not tell what was wrong.
But after returning to the fracture clinic a day later, Miss Howard was told Connor had a crack through his elbow joint.
She says the bullying began when he joined the school in Dairycoates Avenue a year ago.
She said: "Before he started school he was a happy child, he was always happy.
"But after a couple of months, I can't even tell you how many times he had put his fingers down his throat to make himself sick.
"I couldn't understand why, then after a while, I realised it was because he was scared."
Miss Howard says getting Connor to school turned into a daily battle in which he would have screaming fits and even hit her in an effort to stay at home.
Miss Howard said: "He would say 'Mum, I'm scared'.
"He asks 'Why me?' and I can't tell him it's because of his speech problem.
"I try to make him feel like he is not different. I want to be able to protect him and to make him feel safe."
Ms Howard says removing her son from the school is not an option because he otherwise has excellent care and teaching for his speech problem.
She praised the work of staff at the school in helping him to communicate better.
Steve Kernan, headteacher at Newington Academy, said: "The safety and welfare of every child is our number one priority and we deeply regret any incident that leads to a child being injured.
"We value our relationships within the community and are extremely proud of the role we play in developing and modelling good behaviours and attitudes to learning.
"Visitors to school frequently comment on the high standards of behaviour and the caring attitudes demonstrated by staff and pupils.
"A full Ofsted inspection this summer confirmed the view that Newington Academy is a happy, caring school where pupils work and play together.
"Their behaviour is good, and they feel safe at school because staff take good care of them."
• Family news and advice from the Hull Daily Mail
