Blind girl banned from using white stick forced to change schools in Gloucestershire

The Health and Safety Executive almost immediately overturned the school's decision

Hambrook Primary School, whose headteacher is Jo Dent, in south Gloucestershire (Google Street View)

A blind girl has been forced to move to a different school after her white walking stick was deemed a "health and safety risk" by her teachers.

Lily-Grace Hooper was told by Hambrook Primary School in Bristol that she could not bring her cane because a safety assessment concluded it posed a danger to others, according to the Bristol Post.

Although this was dismissed by the Health and Safety Executive, Lily-Grace's mother feels unwelcome after what she calls a subsequent "bullying campaign" among parents.

Kirsty Hooper said she had found the school's decision "flabbergasting" and was upset by parents who used social media to support the teachers.

"I am absolutely livid. What about the health and safety of my girl? I like the school, they are a good school, but this really is very poor advice," she told the Bristol Post.

"It's just ridiculous. If you took a walking cane away from a blind adult, you would say that was discrimination. It's the same here."

Some parents took to Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #happyathambrook to support the school's decision, according to the Bristol Post.

"I felt bullied, I felt she was going to get bullied," said Ms Hooper.

"It was wrong, the decision was wrong, and I just wanted to stick up for my daughter.

Ms Hooper's seven-year-old daughter suffered a stroke at four days old, which has left her with the ability to see light and colours in her left eye, full blindness in her right eye and no 3D vision.

She received the support of the charity Blind Children UK, which said using a cane was important to help a child grow into an independent adult.

Jo Dent, headmistress of the school, had originally told the Bristol Post that staff would discuss the situation with the family.

The school has not responded to The Independent's request for a response.

"The school's mobility officer raised health and safety issues around the new cane following a recent risk assessment," she said.

"The pupil has not been banned from bringing in their cane, we have simply asked them to not use it around school as a temporary measure until we have the chance to meet with the parent and discuss the situation."