**Newport Teaching Assistant Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Use of Excessive Force in Primary School Incident**
A teaching assistant from Monnow Primary School in Bettws, Newport, is at the centre of a disciplinary investigation after being accused of applying excessive physical force on a young pupil, which allegedly resulted in visible marks on the child’s wrist. The incident, which has prompted discussions on safeguarding and professional conduct in educational settings, began with a police investigation before moving to a regulatory panel for review.
The Education Workforce Council (EWC) convened a remote hearing on 2 June to consider the case of Abigail Scrivens, who had worked with the Monnow Primary community since 2016. The allegations surfaced after a year one pupil, identified in proceedings only as ‘Pupil A’ for confidentiality reasons, returned home one afternoon in distress. The child informed her mother that she had been shouted at and had experienced discomfort after being physically handled by the teaching assistant, further stating that she was left “hurt and upset”.
In what followed, the child’s mother discovered red marks on her daughter’s wrist and brought the matter to the attention of the school’s leadership. Headteacher Lisa Bowden recalled being shown a photograph by the parent, which depicted the red marks in question. Mrs Bowden later relayed this evidence to the EWC panel, stating her belief the bruising was linked directly to Ms Scrivens’ actions. The severity of the allegation initially led to police involvement; however, after investigation, the authorities concluded there was insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution.
While Ms Scrivens has denied any mishandling or misconduct, testifying that she used a comforting approach known as a ‘caring C’ technique — intended to gently cup the hand over a child rather than restrain them — witnesses among staff and other pupils reported seeing or hearing about the incident. Dr Francis Graydon, acting on behalf of Ms Scrivens, raised queries over the authenticity and timing of the parent’s photograph, challenging whether the marks could have predated the day in question. Nevertheless, Mrs Bowden remained convinced of their relevance to the alleged handling at school.
The case also brought to light concerns about Ms Scrivens’ compliance with institutional protocols. It was revealed during the hearing that she had not completed the mandatory safeguarding training set out by the school, and had, in fact, left the session prematurely without official leave. This omission has fuelled further debate on the importance of up-to-date safeguarding procedures for school staff, especially those regularly working in close proximity to children.
Additional testimonies from pupils indicated they had witnessed Ms Scrivens raise her voice at Pupil A, compounding the distress observed by adults when the child emerged from school on the day of the incident. Ms Scrivens was reportedly unavailable for immediate comment on the afternoon in question, having left the premises before she could be spoken to by the headteacher.
The allegations, as outlined before the EWC panel, specify that Ms Scrivens is accused of using unnecessary or excessive force while handling Pupil A and failing to promptly notify the school’s senior leadership about the incident. The council is tasked with determining whether these actions constitute “unacceptable professional conduct”, either in isolation or collectively.
While the initial police inquiry was closed without charge, the spotlight has shifted to the educational authorities, who are responsible for upholding standards across the teaching profession in Wales. The matter has underscored the challenges faced by schools in balancing support, discipline, and child welfare in daily practice.
For now, Ms Scrivens remains suspended from all child-facing duties, undertaking alternative work within the school, pending the outcome of the EWC proceedings. Both the school and Scrivens’ representatives have affirmed their commitment to ensure due process is observed throughout the investigation.
The EWC hearing is expected to continue in the coming weeks as further evidence is reviewed and testimonies are gathered. The case has sparked renewed focus on staff training and safeguarding, as communities seek reassurance that pupil wellbeing remains schools’ paramount priority.