I AM writing with regard to your recent reporting of the incident involving a teaching assistant assaulting a youngster at Exeter House (March 3).

As a parent of a child with a complex and challenging learning disability, who has been at Exeter House for nearly ten years, I was saddened by the article as, with the exception of the comments made by the Mayor of Salisbury Jo Broom, the article seems to seek to sensationalise the incident.

It provides no context to the incident and did not seek to obtain or reflect the views of those of us parents (I suspect in the significant majority) who really appreciate the fabulous input of the staff of Exeter House.

Parents were informed of the incident, by letter, as soon as it was appropriate to do so and it appears that all safeguarding procedures were adhered to in accordance with regulation and policy.

As a parent, I have never been aware of low staff morale and have been delighted with the achievements that my son has made at the school in the classroom.

The opportunities that the school also provide with regard to community trips and activities has huge benefit both the young people at the school and the wider Salisbury community – a broader awareness and acceptance that disability exists in both children and adults and is very much a part of daily community life.

Sadly, this one-off incident has happened but this should not distract from the passion, professionalism and expertise that Exeter House staff provide on a daily basis.

They provide this wonderful learning environment for a profoundly vulnerable group of children and young adults – sometimes in extremely challenging situations – and the skills required to do this cannot/should never be underestimated.

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