Mother's anger at accident school

Zack's brain injury left him with limited movement on his left side

A mother has said she will sue her son's school after he suffered a brain injury following a playground accident.

Zack Cohen, five, hit his head in the playground at Broadfield Primary School in Edgware, north London, in September.

With no visible injuries he was not sent home but collapsed hours later and required emergency surgery. Zack now has impaired speech and movement.

His mother Trisha Cohen criticised the school's "lack of care". The school said it followed the correct procedure.

It is thought Zack hit his head on the playground's concrete floor in the September accident.

His mother, from St Albans in Hertfordshire, believes the school should have contacted her sooner.

He says to me, 'Mummy, why can't I talk properly?' Trisha Cohen

Mrs Cohen was called to the school but Zack collapsed when she arrived and he was taken to hospital.

"I tried to keep him awake all through the trip, but when we got to Barnet (Hospital) he was completely unconscious," she said.

Zack underwent surgery to remove blood from his brain and remained in intensive care for five days.

He left hospital four weeks later but his brain injury has resulted in him slurring his speech and left him with limited movement on his left side.

His mother said: "He says to me, 'Mummy, why can't I talk properly? Mummy, why can't I walk properly?'

"All I can say is 'you had a little accident at school.'"

She added: "The lack of care, the lack of supervision has lost me my child in personality and ability."

Zack's condition is expected to improve with therapy but doctors have told Mrs Cohen that the long-term effects are difficult to predict.

Broadfield Primary School would not discuss details of the case.

But in a statement it said: "Trained first aid staff from the school followed procedures in accordance with government first aid guidelines."

Brent Council said its health and safety officers are investigating circumstances around the case.