Girl, 5, put in school isolation because of hair beads

Miah-Lee Walters arrived as usual at Pheasey Park Farm Primary near Great Barr on Monday last week.

But when teachers saw she had beads in her hair they telephoned her mother Andrina Walters immediately to say they needed to be taken out for safety reasons.

Miss Walters, 25, a dental nurse formally of Great Barr but now of Bilston, initially agreed until Miah-Lee came home at the end of the day revealing she had been put in isolation away from her friends for the day.

She said: "Miah came and told me she had been isolated for an entire day and made to do colouring. She had to stand outside with a teacher and watch all of the other kids play.

"She was really upset and distraught at not being allowed to be with her friends.

"How is her hairstyle affecting her learning, that's what I want somebody to explain. It is ridiculous."

Miss Walters who is of Jamaican origin has now decided to take a stand over the matter.

Initially she sent Miah-Lee into school knowing she would have to spend the day on her own but now has risked criminal action by refusing to send her in.

She claims since Monday the school policy has 'miraculously' changed to prohibit beads despite not stating so before.

Now Miss Walters, who also has a one-year-old son, has declared she is pulling Miah-Lee out of Pheasey Park Farm for the next school year.

She added: "How can you punish a child for having beads in her hair. It's our culture. That is what we grew up with. I went to school with beads in my hair. I think it is backwards now. Kids aren't allowed to express themselves. It's not right.

"There is an underlying problem with this school. How can you put a little kid of five in isolation. The rules and regulations are ridiculous. It is disgusting. Miah-Lee will not be attending here in September."

Headteacher Sally Lanni stood by the school's safety policy which she admitted had been updated recently.

She said: "We will not compromise children's safety for fashion reasons.

"Our policy which has been endorsed by Ofsted clearly states; fashion items or items which compromise safety are not permitted in children's hair. I can confirm that our policy was updated at the last governors meeting on 23rd June however, this was to make it more explicit to all parents what is and is not allowed."