Teaching assistant slaps four-year-old pupil in class

The hearing heard how the slap was a "one-off" but "serious matter"

A teaching assistant experienced a "loss of control" when she slapped a four-year-old pupil, a fitness to practice hearing has found.

Leander Shaw was working at Ysgol Bryn Deva in Connah's Quay, Flintshire, when the incident happened in October 2023.

The hearing heard that the slap on the child's hand, was in response to "challenging" behaviour by the child during a class.

Ms Shaw lost her job at the school following the incident, with the panel imposing a reprimand on her record.

Leander Shaw had worked at Ysgol Bryn Deva for about 14 years, and had no other known disciplinary proceedings recorded against her at the time.

The incident, which the fitness to practice committee said was a "one-off" but a "serious matter", took place on the 25 October 2023, with Ms Shaw suspended the following day.

The committee found that the contact with the child's hand followed "adverse behaviour on the part of the child, including an attempt to kick out at Ms Shaw".

The hearing heard Ms Shaw grabbed the child's hand as they went to hit her and slapped the child on their left hand above the wrist.

Ms Shaw was not present at the hearing which was held between 22 and 24 September 2025.

Statements from a teacher who was in the class at the time, and the school's assistant head teacher, said that Ms Shaw was upset and shocked in the moments after the slap.

A written explanation from Ms Shaw described how she was "in utter shock and disbelief" at what had happened.

The committee heard how Ms Shaw was working in a "particularly difficult class" of children who had been "negatively impacted by the Covid pandemic" when the incident happened.

Ms Shaw claimed she had "tapped" the child, but that description was refuted by two members of staff and echoed in the committee's findings.

In its findings, the committee said: "This was a one-off incident, a single momentary loss of control in response to challenging behaviour.

"It is clear the class was particularly difficult. It is clear the development of the children had been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and it was a difficult environment."

The committee said that Ms Shaw had not engaged with the hearing and provided no references or testimonials.

Ms Shaw lost her job at the school after the incident but the panel's decision to impose a reprimand on her registration means she is able to work in schools in Wales.

She would have to disclose the reprimand to any education employer.

Ms Shaw was voluntarily interviewed by North Wales Police, but a prosecution was not deemed appropriate.

The reprimand will remain on her education workforce council registration as a teaching assistant for two years from the date of the decision.

Ms Shaw has the right of appeal to the High Court within 28 days.