School kicks out 'sick granny' girl

Muhammad and Aliya Shoaib had to travel to Pakistan to look after Aliya's mother when she was taken to hospital. Fearing it was the last time they would see her, they took their children out of Woodlands Junior and Infant School in Ilford after telling the school of the exceptional circumstances.

But when they returned the junior school said eight-year-old Maheen had been barred. Her two sisters, Mahnoor, six, and Nayab, five, who go to the infant school, were not. In all the children were away for 29 days and missed 15 days of school.

Education chiefs have now pushed Maheen to the bottom of a 30-strong list of children waiting for a place at the school.

Maheen, one of the brightest in her year, has missed more than two weeks of lessons since her return from Pakistan.

Mr Shoaib, 37, an operations manager at a security firm, said she cries every day because she is bored.

The school is standing by its decision, saying that Mr Shoaib and his wife Aliya, 38, broke strict rules forbidding children from being taken out of school in term time without permission.

It also claims that documents relating to their relative's illness which were needed to confirm the exceptional circumstances never arrived. The family, from Mortlake Road, Ilford, flew to Lahore on 30 September to be with Aliya's 58-year-old mother Naseem Begum as she underwent surgery.

The school demanded a medical certificate which Mr Shoaib said they faxed from Pakistan. But the school claims it never received the document.

Mr Shoaib said: "I took the children to school the day after we got back but Maheen's teacher said there was a problem and sent us to the office. I was told she had been struck off because they hadn't received the certificate. I asked for an appointment with the headteacher but they said that wasn't possible.

"I try the school, and they're busy. I try the council, and they're busy. You'd think you were trying to speak to the Prime Minister. I said, 'I'm begging you on my knees don't do this to my child'. It's very frustrating. It's a child's future we're talking about."

Maheen said: "I just want to get back to school as soon as possible. I'm so bored not being able to go."

Redbridge Council said it backed the school's decision. A spokesman said: "We recommend to schools that leave of absence during term time is not authorised unless in the most exceptional of circumstances."

The school declined to comment.