A school has apologised for its "insensitivity" after it sent home learning featuring a book about a daddy and daughter's day out to a five year-old girl who was grieving her father's sudden death.
The girl's mum alerted her daughter's school when her ex-partner suddenly died, and notified it she would be keeping her daughter off school for a couple of weeks to grieve.
Stacy Hirst, 34, said she asked the school to send a home learning pack, but was horrified to find a book 'Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale' in the pack, which is about a daughter and her daddy on a day out.
The school - Quay Academy in Bridlington - took two weeks to apologise after she complained, Stacy told Hull Live.
"After her dad died, Kendel was struggling," said Stacy. "She used to video call him every night, and the last time she spoke to him, he said he'd speak to her tomorrow, and I found out the next day that he'd died.
"She has been really upset and doesn't understand, she's been asking if she can video call him in heaven.
"I contacted her school and said I was going to home school her for a couple of weeks, as I'd been doing it for months in lockdown anyway, and I asked for a home learning pack."
"They said that was fine. I received the pack on the Friday and opened it up and usually with her home learning in lockdown, I'd just give it to her to get on with, and then we'd go through it together after she'd done it.
"Luckily, this time, I had a quick look through, and there was a story about a little girl and her daddy having a day out together.
"I wasn't at all impressed as I thought it was really insensitive, so I called the school and left an urgent message for them to ring me back."
"If it was a genuine mistake and they didn't know, then fair enough," she added.
However, Stacy said she did not receive an apology for two weeks - after making 14 calls to the school for an explanation.
"I said I would like an apology from the person involved, as it turned out it was sent by someone who had known Kendel's dad had passed away.
"I haven't had a personal apology from the teacher."
Stacy has now decided to home educate her daughter permanently.
A spokesperson for Quay Academy said: “A family bereavement is an extremely difficult time for anyone, particularly children, and we work hard to support children through this.
"We recognise, however, that on this occasion our actions were unintentionally insensitive.
"We are reviewing what happened and will explore whether any changes need to be made to our process and practices. In the meantime, we have extended an unreserved apology to the family for causing any further upset at what will undoubtedly have been a distressing time.”
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