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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Christie Bannon & Lucy John

Dad refused to send child to school after being told there was no soap in the girls' toilets

A parent said they were refusing to send their child to a Powys secondary school because there was "no soap in the girls' bathroom".

The dad, who did not want to be named, said his daughter "is not comfortable" at Ysgol Maesydderwen in Ystradgynlais after hearing about the empty soap dispensers on Thursday, September 3.

Ysgol Maesydderwen has said it is dealing with the complaint and will respond to the parent.

The concerned parent said: "On Wednesday we saw a Twitter message from Powys Council saying that face masks need to be worn where social distancing isn't possible.

"My daughter and her friend arrived at school and were told to wear face masks when entering.

"My daughter's friend went to the toilet before school started but there was no soap in there.

"She told a teacher and they said 'we will fill it up' but she went again before the end of the day and it still wasn't there.

"I rang the school and was told that there are a number of sanitising stations around the school.

"If you can't put soap in a toilet after six months - I am lost for words."

Do you think your children are safe in school? Tell us your comments here.

Ysgol Maesydderwen in Ystradgynlais (Western Mail)

He said his daughter would not be going to school as a result, and claimed other parents were thinking of doing the same.

"I want my daughter to be safe and my daughter is not comfortable in school," he added.

"Not having soap in a toilet is enough for me to not send my daughter to school and a number of parents have also said the same.

"It's about the children's health and the fact that they will be bringing it home to their parents."

Headteacher of Ysgol Maesydderwen, Phil Grimes, said a complaint process was ongoing.

He said: "Our priority is the safety of our learners and staff as they return after the summer holidays.  We have implemented a regular monitoring schedule which checks all the facilities throughout the school

"We have received a complaint from a parent and the process for dealing with the complaint is underway.  The outcomes of the complaint will be reported back to the parent when it is completed.

"While the complaint process is ongoing, we will not be making any further comment."

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