The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal has deregistered a teacher following several assaults on children at a kindergarten. The children were aged between two and four years. 

The teacher forcibly held children lying down, with both her hands and legs.  A further incident involved forcibly making a child bend over to pick up a toy, in the process of which the child hit their face on a shelf and sustained an injury.  A further incident involved her making a child sit at a table for 40 minutes as the child would not say “please” to be excused. 

The Tribunal held that the teacher lacked insight to the seriousness of her conduct and the cancellation of her registration was the only outcome to ensure children’s safety.

Alan Knowsley

Education Lawyer
Wellington