'He's not safe at this school.' Mother says special needs son was struck in the face by TA in Lindenhurst

According to an incident report, the attack happened a week ago at Just Kids Early Childhood Center - a school that has programs for special needs children.

News 12 Staff

Oct 29, 2022, 2:21 AM

Updated 706 days ago

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A mother says her 4-year-old son was struck in the face by a teacher's assistant at his pre-school in Lindenhurst.
According to an incident report, the attack happened a week ago at Just Kids Early Childhood Center - a school that has programs for special needs children.
The mother says she pulled her son out of the school because she no longer thinks it's safe
A doorbell video shows the child telling his parents he was frightened to go to school.
The parent, who did not want to be identified on camera, says the act was witnessed by a teacher who then alerted the administration.
"You put the trust in the school that they're going to keep your children safe, and they have your child as the best interest," the mother says. "You don't ever think they're being mistreated."
The incident report says the child, who has special needs, was "having a difficult time transitioning between centers" and says the child "kicked and spit at the staff member."
It says the staff member said, "We don't spit" and hit the boy in the nose.
The paperwork says the incident happened at 11:30 a.m. but the boy's mother was not notified until 12:15 p.m. that afternoon.
She says the teacher's assistant was fired but nobody from the school called the police.
Child Protective Services are now involved, and the boy's parents filed a police report earlier in the week.
Their son is now staying home instead of going to school and the parents fear that could hurt his development.
"I'm not sending him back to this school - he's not safe at this school," the mother says. "The school failed to keep my child safe."
News 12 reached out to the Just Kids Early Childhood Center, but they declined to speak.
Suffolk County police confirm their Special Victims Unit is investigating an incident that happened at the Lindenhurst school.