Compensation sought for children abused at nursery
Children who suffered abuse at the hands of banned nursery school head teacher Patricia Ann Baynes could be in line for £70,000 each in compensation, say lawyers.
A Birmingham law firm is co-ordinating a group action of families after Mrs Baynes was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct last month (News, 1 May). A General Teaching Council tribunal heard that she had force-fed, assaulted and unfairly punished children in her care, while head teacher of Bordesley Green East Nursery in the city.
Uppal Taylor will seek to obtain damages from both Patricia Ann Baynes and her employer, Birmingham City Council.
Birmingham City Council can be held responsible under the vicarious liability principle, whereby an employer is responsible for the acts of an employee. Many employees and ex-staff gave evidence against Mrs Baynes.
Christopher Ratcliffe, an associate at Uppal Taylor, said, 'The psychological impact cannot be underestimated. There's the stress at the time and the long-term impacts as well. In some cases their education has been severely affected, and it can create fears of people in authority and prevent them from getting employment.'
He added, 'The bigger a group action, the more likely they will get compensation. It's a cheaper way of litigation as well. The aim in this group action is to get money for the treatment of the children.'
The tribunal also found Mrs Baynes 'seriously demeaned or undermined colleagues by behaving inappropriately towards them'.
'This abuse was going on for over a decade and went unnoticed,' said Mr Ratcliffe. 'Other staff will be useful in order to establish their negligence. The council are also responsible for the actions of the other staff at the nursery school. It's common sense that making a child stand in a corridor for hours is not appropriate childcare.'
