Police probe pupils shut in room

A police investigation is taking place into incidents of children at a primary school in Essex being shut in a small room for misbehaving.

Head teacher Stuart Livingstone and another member of staff at Coppins Green Primary School have been suspended, the county council said.

The school recently admitted shutting violent or disruptive pupils in a "safe room" until they had calmed down.

The council said it could not comment further on the case.

'Parents informed'

Coppins Green said last month: "Very occasionally we have to deal with extremely violent and disruptive behaviour in order to safeguard and protect other pupils and staff at the school."

It said any child placed in the room was supervised by one or more qualified members of staff and parents were informed of the incident.

An Essex County Council spokesperson said: "Following a number of complaints about disciplinary procedures used at the school, the chair of governors at Coppins Green Primary School has suspended two members of staff.

"This was done as a precautionary measure and pending further investigation by Essex County Council and Essex Police child protection officers."

A police spokesman said: "Child protection officers are working with partner agencies to investigate complaints made about disciplinary measures used on pupils at a Clacton primary school."