Aussie Student Trapped in School Shed on 31C Day
Incident at Manning Gardens Public School
An eight-year-old girl with autism was accidentally locked inside a sports shed at Manning Gardens Public School in Taree, NSW. The incident occurred on October 15, when the girl's father, Matthew Everingham, went to pick her up at around 2:30 pm. Upon arrival, he noticed that his daughter, Ruby, was not lined up at the gate as usual.
As Mr. Everingham and his partner, Brooke, waited, they were approached by other children who told them that Ruby was missing. "Heaps of kids were rushing past myself and my partner telling us 'they are looking for Ruby' and 'Ruby can't be found'," Mr. Everingham recounted to The Daily Telegraph. He emphasized that the school did not even call to inform them that Ruby was missing.
Eventually, Ruby was found being led out of the shed by a teacher and an aide for special needs children, crying uncontrollably. According to Mr. Everingham, the teacher apologized and explained that Ruby had been discovered inside the sports shed after being locked in for five minutes. The shed, which had no air conditioning or ventilation, was described as "scorching" in the 31C heat.
Mr. Everingham believes that Ruby went missing during outdoor games on "pirate day." He explained that all the children with higher needs were grouped together, making it challenging for the teachers and special needs aide (SLO) to supervise. Given that Ruby has watched survival TV shows and has a photographic memory, he speculated that she may have chosen to "hide" in the shed and was locked in.
According to Mr. Everingham, one staff member claimed they checked the shed was empty before locking it. However, after reviewing photos of the shed, he couldn't understand how Ruby could have hidden there unless she was in the cupboard with the door shut.
Since the incident, Mr. Everingham stated that he was not directly contacted by the school, not even receiving a welfare call. Instead, he was contacted by the NSW Department of Education to arrange for his daughter to be enrolled at a different school in Taree.
Response from the NSW Department of Education
A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education said that their staff had met with the family and offered an apology following the incident. They also mentioned that the matter had been reported to the police, and the school had reviewed its student safety and supervision processes.
"The school has taken steps to ensure the door of the sports equipment room can be opened from the inside," the spokesperson added. "The safety and wellbeing of students is our highest priority, and we are providing the family with access to counselling services."
Ruby is currently doing well at her new school, and the department remains in regular contact with the family to ensure their needs are met and they have access to all relevant supports.
Ongoing Concerns and Follow-Up
The Daily Mail has reached out to Mr. Everingham and Manning Gardens Public School for further information. While the incident appears to have been resolved without serious harm, it has raised concerns about the supervision of students with special needs and the safety protocols in place at schools.
Parents and educators alike are now questioning how such an incident could occur and what measures can be taken to prevent similar situations in the future. As more details emerge, the community continues to support the family and advocate for improved safety standards in educational institutions.
Other recent incidents have sparked similar concerns across Australia. In Adelaide, a school scare left many parents worried about their children's safety. In another case, a Year 6 girl spent hours alone in an empty school, prompting outrage among parents. Additionally, a routine athletics practice turned into a nightmare at an Adelaide school, leading to a dramatic lockdown and emergency services intervention.
These events highlight the importance of constant vigilance and clear communication between schools and families. As the investigation into Ruby’s incident continues, the focus remains on ensuring that every child is safe and supported in their learning environment.
