School promises to work with mother of alopecia child
- By Susan Whitford
- Published 17th October, 2008
- Hair News
- Unrated
Susan Whitford
Susan Whitford has twelve years experience as a health and beauty journalist in the United Kingdom. Susan has worked as a staff writer and features editor on a number of consumer magazines.
A school in Fleetwood has promised to work with a mother who claims her daughter was excluded on the basis of her hair loss condition.
11-year-old Sophie Richardson was targeted by school bullies because of her appearance, which is caused by alopecia, claims her mother Cassie Richardson, 27. Cassie said the bullies have played a part in getting Sophie excluded from school.
Cassie old her local paper that one occasion the bullies surrounded Sophie in a phone box and threatened to beat her up. Cassie said of the bullying allegations: "If these few other people had hair loss for any reason, how would they be able to cope? I'm sure they would hope that other people wouldn't be so judgmental about it."
Fleetwood Sports College head teacher Stephen Roe said: "The bullying situation is perhaps not as clear cut as it seems, and there are some wider behavioural issues involving Sophie herself which have led to her exclusion. But we are working with Sophie and her mother to ensure she gets the most out of her time at the school."
Sophie has had the hair loss condition alopecia since she was a baby. Doctors attempted to treat it with steroid cream, zinc tablets and a cortisone drip, but all of these measures failed. The NHS provided funding for Sophie to get a wig, but the child complained they made her head itch.
11-year-old Sophie Richardson was targeted by school bullies because of her appearance, which is caused by alopecia, claims her mother Cassie Richardson, 27. Cassie said the bullies have played a part in getting Sophie excluded from school.
Cassie old her local paper that one occasion the bullies surrounded Sophie in a phone box and threatened to beat her up. Cassie said of the bullying allegations: "If these few other people had hair loss for any reason, how would they be able to cope? I'm sure they would hope that other people wouldn't be so judgmental about it."
Fleetwood Sports College head teacher Stephen Roe said: "The bullying situation is perhaps not as clear cut as it seems, and there are some wider behavioural issues involving Sophie herself which have led to her exclusion. But we are working with Sophie and her mother to ensure she gets the most out of her time at the school."
Sophie has had the hair loss condition alopecia since she was a baby. Doctors attempted to treat it with steroid cream, zinc tablets and a cortisone drip, but all of these measures failed. The NHS provided funding for Sophie to get a wig, but the child complained they made her head itch.