Sheffield infant school closes after sexual assault claim

A nursery and infant school has been closed temporarily after parents threatened to withdraw their children following the arrest of a staff member over an allegation of serious sexual assault. Police and council officials met 250 anxious parents and families at Greenlands school in Darnall, Sheffield, after the arrest was confirmed. The school hall was packed while others waited in the playground outside. The person involved, who is understood not to be a teacher, was questioned and has been released on police bail. Detective Inspector Sean McMahon, of South Yorkshire police, said: "The investigation is being progressed as quickly as possible having regard to the serious nature of the allegation made. Matters such as this are thankfully rare. "The Darnall and Tinsley Safer Neighbourhood Team is working with the local community to address any concerns and the investigating officers currently believe the alleged incident to be isolated." The director of children and young people's services for Sheffield city council, Dr Sonia Sharp, was at the meeting on Monday evening. She said: "We're going to meet with parents to talk with them about what process will be followed from here, but also to offer them support, so that if any parents feel they want to talk to somebody individually, or their children need support, we can provide that as well." She said the school, which has 345 pupils, had followed safeguards "to the letter, responding to the incident and taking all the right steps". Parents at the meeting said they would not bring their children back until a clearer picture had emerged. The incident is understood to have involved a boy who raised the issue with a parent and was subsequently given a medical examination. The school has a good reputation in the ethnically mixed and socially deprived area and describes itself on its website as "a special place where all children, parents and staff work together as part of a happy learning community. We are proud of our culturally diverse school and ensure that families and children receive a warm welcome." The section on pastoral care says: "The pastoral team works hard to make sure our children feel safe and happy in school. We help motivate children to enjoy school and to develop their social skills, behaviour and confidence." An Ofsted report in 2007 described Greenlands as "satisfactory and improving" after an official "notice to improve" the previous year. It praised effective management and complimented the headteacher, Sue Daniels, on resolving staffing difficulties, notably a high turnover. At the time, 98% of the children were learning English as an additional language and the proportion eligible for free school meals was double the national average. Ofsted returned in 2009 and found further improvement but similar deprivation statistics. The inspectors noted that very few parents answered a questionnaire or gave written views but those who did were positive and specifically regarded the school as a safe place for their children.