A teacher alleged to have hit a young girl at a special needs school has broken her silence, telling she feels that she has been ?unrelentingly persecuted? by the school and a number of parents.

Laura Delgaty spoke out as the controversy over her continuing employment as a teacher at Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy rumbles on.

She is due to return to work at the establishment on Military Road, Devonshire on Monday, after a period of leave.

Ms Delgaty had served a three-day suspension following the alleged incident at the school several months ago. She went on maternity leave before briefly returning to work earlier this month.

However, her return sparked some parents call for her resignation, threaten to boycott the school, and to write to the Principal withdrawing their children from her lessons.

One parent told that prior to the second period of leave that ensued, Ms Delgaty was left with just one child in her class after parents protested that they did not wish her to teach their children.

The source said it was understood that the teacher has been offered a number of alternative employment options but declined to accept them.An emergency meeting of parents is likely to be convened over the next few days to discuss the matter.

Speaking about the situation for the first time yesterday Ms Delgaty said: ?I have been advised not to comment, but I will say that I feel that I have been unrelentingly persecuted by the administration at Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy and by a handful of parents, two of whom I have never met.?

She declined to add anything to her brief statement, other than that she was ?supposedly? returning to work on Monday.

One mother who asked not to be identified, said that she is considering withdrawing her child from lessons if Ms Delgaty does go back. ?A few parents have phoned me to voice their concerns as they were informed by the Principal early this afternoon that she is returning,? she said yesterday.

?I don?t know what my options are right now but I am very angry, and considering withdrawing my child from the school although this would leave me in a difficult position.

?I have concerns about the safety of my child and I feel the question needs to be raised about what has been done to keep the children safe. It is so important to have good solid people to work with special needs children as they cannot speak for themselves.

?But for the fact that the Department of Education screwed up big time, this would not be an issue. I understand that 90 percent of the school have requested her resignation.?

Shadow Minister of Education Neville Darrell has previously given the worried parents his support, and called for Ms Delgaty to resign.

He hopes to meet with the parents this weekend to help resolve the issue. ?This is still a matter of great concern to me. Some of these children quite literally cannot speak for themselves and I think that the fear of parents is not hysteria ? it is quite legitimate,? he added.