A “devastated” mum has criticized a photography company for suggesting children with complex needs should be removed from classroom photos.
Parents and carers at Aboyne Primary School complained after receiving a link sent by Tempest Photography that offered an alternative to class photos, regardless of whether there were children who needed extra support.
Aberdeenshire Council said it was informed of the incident and immediately asked the company to remove any images that did not involve the entire class.
The local government apologized for the incident, acknowledging it had caused “pain and hurt”.
“Erase my child from history”
Natalie Pinnell, whose daughter Erin was left out of a group of photos, told Sky News: “I actually didn’t want to believe it. I opened it a couple of times and I thought ‘No, No, I must be missing something'” .
“When I couldn’t find any other reason, I contacted the school and that was the first they heard about it.
“They contacted the photographer and confirmed that two classes were affected.”
Mrs. Pinnell’s daughter Eileen.Image: Natalie Pinnell
Ms Pinnell said the photographer took the photo without the children, who have complex needs, as they made their way to classrooms.
She said the photos in the link sent out by the committee were branded Storm Photography.
Ms Pinnell said: “I am heartbroken – words cannot express it. As a mother, it has been one of the most heartbreaking experiences to see an adult give other adults the option to erase my child from history. one.”
“It was an absolutely devastating experience.”
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‘shame on you’
Ms Pinnell said the support from the school and local community had been “incredible” but it could not undo “the damage that has been done”.
Speaking directly about the photography company, Ms Pinnell said: “Shame on you, that’s the first thing I want to say. [Erin] She is a person, and she is beautiful.
“The second thing I would say is, please do some training on diversity and inclusion.
“This cannot be allowed to happen. It’s a very distressing thing to talk about and the only reason I’m doing it is to make people aware of this and to make sure no other family goes through this because it’s simply unacceptable of.” “
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We have contacted Cornwall-based company Tempest Photography, which employs local photographers to take school photos across the UK, for comment.
“This is completely unacceptable”
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “We are aware that following recent class photos at Aboyne Primary School, links to purchase the photos included images of pupils with and without complex needs.
“While this was not a decision made by the school, we absolutely understand the distress and hurt this has caused some parents and carers and we are sincerely sorry.
“This issue has been discussed directly with the photography company as this is completely unacceptable.
“Aboyne is an inclusive school and every child should be included, involved and involved in their learning and school experience.”
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