THE parents of a five-year-old boy have demanded to know why their son was allowed to pick up a used syringe in the playground of his school.
Kian O'Connell handed the syringe to staff after finding it at Hardwick Primary School in Normanton.
Parents Estelle Rouse and Dean O'Connell, of Randolph Road, Normanton, were alarmed when the school rang to report the incident.
Miss Rouse wants to know why the syringe had not been spotted by staff before pupils were allowed out to play at lunchtime.
She said: "Apparently, he gave it to a member of staff. He was inspected for prick marks and had disinfectant put on his hands.
"Despite trying to find out how the syringe was allowed to be in the playground with children, I wasn't given any answers.
"I was told it 'had happened before' but if that is the case then surely that should make the school extra-vigilant."
Mystery also surrounds whether or not the syringe had a cap on it. Miss Rouse said the school stated it had but Kian told her it had "a pointy end" when he gave it to an adult.
Mr O'Connell said: "Ironically, afterwards the children received a talk about not picking up objects they spot and telling an adult instead but at five it can be difficult to instill that idea in a child's head."
Kian was taken by his mother to the Lister Street walk-in centre and checked out by a doctor.
Miss Rouse said: "She said she could not see any obvious marks where he had been pricked and he seemed to have suffered no ill-effects but that I needed to keep an eye on him and take him to hospital if his health deteriorated."
Head teacher Jonathan Gallimore said: "In the distant past, bottles, cans and syringes have been found in the school grounds. But in the past two years I have been here there have been no incidents.
"But we carefully inspect the grounds each morning and before break and lunchtimes. Something could occur between the checks though.
"No-one has been on to the site so the syringe must have been thrown over the fence because it was found near the perimeter. Whoever did this has no regard for our children's safety.
"I understand Kian's parents' frustration and have spoken to his father to reassure him we have done our best to keep the children safe.
"This was obviously a close call and it has led to us carrying out additional risk assessments and checking our procedures.
"We have also informed the police so that they can keep an eye out on the streets around the school."
