A teacher alleged to have hit a young girl at a special needs school is no longer working in the classroom.

Laura Delgaty served a three day suspension after the alleged incident at Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy last year. She faced a storm of protest from parents when she returned to teaching Class 3 in October after time on maternity leave, with some calling for her resignation.

She was reportedly left with just one child in her usual class of five after parents protested that they did not want her teaching their children and they were moved to another class.understands that Ms Delgaty was off work, possibly on sick leave, since before Christmas, and that parents were informed of her new position by school principal Bonnie McGlynn last week.

They were told that she had accepted an alternative role that will see her remain at the school in a non-teaching capacity while working on curriculum development. This, they understand, will not involve her working directly with the students.

One mother, who had previously expressed deep concerns about the welfare of her disabled child while Ms Delgaty continued as a teacher, welcomed the news.

?This couldn?t be better, it?s something that everyone is pleased with,? she said. ?I?m happy as long as she doesn?t have any contact with the kids.?

However, she remains angry with the Department of Education, who she accused of mis-handling the entire affair and never investigating the alleged incident properly.

?It?s been a stressful situation for us and it shouldn?t have happened. The whole thing was just a farce. The Department of Education wanted to sweep the whole thing under the carpet. Child and Family Services should have been involved and I don?t know why they were not.?

Shadow Minister of Education Neville Darrell had been campaigning for Ms Delgaty?s removal from her teaching position at Dame Marjorie Bean and welcomed news that she has been moved to a non-teaching role.

?This matter troubled me from the beginning and the fact that it took so long to resolve troubles me more. My concern was with the effectiveness of the school in providing a safe environment for these special needs children and I want to thank the parents for their determination, and the school leadership for bringing about this change of opportunity for Ms Delgaty. I am pleased that the situation appears to have been resolved,? he said.

Minister of Education Terry Lister said that Ms Delgaty?s new role began at the start of this month. ?She has been asked to take a look at the curriculum for this special school and insist in revamping it,? he explained.

However, he declined to discuss the matter any further. Ms Delgaty, who had previously told that she felt she had been ?unrelentingly persecuted? by both the administration at the school and some of the parents, could not be reached for comment last night.