A school apologized to a 5-year-old girl after she was sent home with ‘insensitive’ homework following the death of her father.

The girl was reportedly sent a book about a daddy and daughter day out even though staff members knew about her father’s death.

Her frustrated mother, 34-year-old Stacy Hirst, said she informed Quay Academy when her ex-partner passed away.

Speaking to Hull Live, Ms. Hirst said he was horrified to find the Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale book, which is about a father and his daughter going out together.

She said that the school in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, took two weeks to apologize after she made more than a dozen of phone calls.

“After her dad died, Kendel was struggling,” Ms. Hirst said. “She used to video call him every night, and the last time she spoke to him, he said he’d speak to her tomorrow, and I found out the next day that he’d died.”

“She has been really upset and doesn’t understand, she’s been asking if she can video call him in heaven,” Ms. Hirst added.

“I contacted her school and said I was going to home school her for a couple of weeks, as I’d been doing it for months in lockdown anyway, and I asked for a home learning pack.

“They said that was fine. I received the pack on the Friday and opened it up and usually with her home learning in lockdown, I’d just give it to her to get on with, and then we’d go through it together after she’d done it.

“Luckily, this time, I had a quick look through, and there was a story about a little girl and her daddy having a day out together.

“I wasn’t at all impressed as I thought it was really insensitive, so I called the school and left an urgent message for them to ring me back.”

 

Ms. Hirst said that one or two members of staff knew about her daughter’s loss.

“If it was a genuine mistake and they didn’t know, then fair enough,” she said.

“I said I would like an apology from the person involved, as it turned out it was sent by someone who had known Kendel’s dad had passed away,” Ms. Hirst further said.

“I haven’t had a personal apology from the teacher.”

 

A Quay Academy spokesperson said: “A family bereavement is an extremely difficult time for anyone, particularly children, and we work hard to support children through this.

“We recognise, however, that on this occasion our actions were unintentionally insensitive. We are reviewing what happened and will explore whether any changes need to be made to our process and practices.

“In the meantime, we have extended an unreserved apology to the family for causing any further upset at what will undoubtedly have been a distressing time.”

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