Playground accident - Parents told to use the FOI Act if they want to know what happened

Playground accident - Parents told to use the FOI Act if they want to know what happened

The family of a boy who broke his front teeth in a playground accident were told: "If you want to know what happened, use the Freedom of Information Act."

Riverside primary school in Brighton Street, Seacombe, Wirral, did not call the boy's parents or send a letter home about his injury and when his mother asked for a copy of the school's accident policy, she was told to apply using the Act.

The school originally claimed it gave the boy a letter for his mother, but when challenged by the Liverpool Echo it admitted that one had not been sent. A spokesman said: "Any request for school policy documents must be submitted in writing and responded to within 20 working days, as per Freedom of Information Act guidelines."

Primary school's red tape madness (Liverpool Echo, 13 September 2005)