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A seven-year-old boy has suffered a serious head injury after he was allegedly punched by another student while playing at a school in Melbourne’s south-east earlier this month.
Jayden Pham was placed in an induced coma following the alleged attack, which unfolded between another Grade One student at St John Vianney’s Primary School in Mulgrave on October 17.
While the school contacted his parents disclosing the initial fight, his parents have said there should have been more staff supervision on school grounds.
“He started hitting me in the head and that hurt (me) quite a lot,” Jayden told 9News.
“When the bell rang, I stood up and he punched me in the chin and my tooth fell out. It hurt a bit.”
After the alleged attack, Jayden sought help from staff, who contacted his parents, saying he suffered a broken tooth and had been punched once.
“My friend told the teacher when the bell rang,” he said.
Four days later, the seven-year-old told his parents he was suffering from a painful headache.
“He (was in) really bad pain, crying the whole night and vomiting,” his mother Julie Pham said.
Jayden was rushed to hospital where he underwent emergency brain surgery, having suffered internal bleeding.
His parents allege the school has failed them telling 9News that no adult or teacher witnessed the attack.
“The teacher has a duty of protection because we trust the school to protect our children,” his father Paul Pham said.
St John Vianney’s Primary School Principal Andrew Mullaly said the safety of students was their number one priority.
“We take our responsibilities extremely seriously,” he said in a statement.
“In accordance with our clear policies and procedures, no form of bullying or violence is ever acceptable. One of our student’s health has unfortunately deteriorated significantly in the days following an incident between two Year 1 students in the playground.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with this student and family.”
Mullaly said the incident was investigated by staff and found the student had been struck by another student following a dispute in relation to a soccer match.
“The student was assessed by a first-aid qualified staff member,” he said.
“Parents of both students were advised of the incident.
“The student returned to class, and to school in subsequent days, with no obvious signs of the serious and concerning medical issues which have since arisen.
“We will continue to offer full support to the family.”
However, his parents, backed by lawyers, allege there should have been better supervision.
Arnold Thomas and Becker Senior Associate Jennifer Lay said they allege the school failed to provide the appropriate supervision for the students.
“These injuries are life-changing and are likely to impact him long term,” she said.
“There has been a denial that the current condition of the child is not a result of what happened on the school grounds.
“We understand there were no teachers present at the time of the incident.”
Jayden will be discharged from hospital in the coming days but he has a long road to recovery.
“The pain, the suffering that Jayden has been through. I wish that no parents go through what (he has) been through,” Mr Pham said.
