Parents at a special needs school have withdrawn their children from a class run by a physiotherapist who returns today after serving a suspension for allegedly hitting a young girl.

Laura Delgaty has been moved to handling teenagers at Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy after serving a three-day suspension and then taking several months maternity leave.

Parents fear she could offend again and have called on her to quit the tiny school in Old Military Road, Devonshire where she had been acting in a teaching capacity.

It is understood at least three of the five children due to be taught by Ms Delgaty today have been withdrawn by their parents.

Yesterday acting Permanent Secretary for Education Joseph Christopher refused to talk about the incident which happened several months ago.

However the school?s Parent Teachers Association president, Ifor Hughes said: ?There is an issue at the school that a number of parents are very concerned about.

?The PTA has been and still is trying to resolve that issue through normal channels.?

He declined to discuss the case further.

Bermuda Union of Teachers General Secretary Michael Charles said Ms Delgaty had not been found guilty at a disciplinary hearing although he agreed she had served a three-day suspension.

Asked if he was satisfied with the outcome Mr. Charles said: ?No, because it was never proven but Dr. Christopher decided to suspend her. Ms Delgaty didn?t want to pursue it any further, she was having a baby.

?I think she was unfairly treated.? understands the alleged incident was witnessed by a therapist and reported although the girl was unable to talk about it because of the extent of her disabilities.

She has now returned to Britain with her family.

Parents who spoke to stressed they did not want the incident to tarnish the reputation of a well-run and much needed school which opened two years ago.

?It is a great school with very caring staff,? said one parent. ?But when we heard she was coming back, people got more exercised about it.?

The parent said there had been other concerns about Ms Delgaty including reports of her shouting at children.

?We are demanding action,? the parent said.

?We are arguing for her to be removed to a more appropriate situation where she is not dealing with special needs children who are not able to speak for themselves.?

Another parent fumed about the way the Department of Education handled the probe with no independent medical evidence being presented at the hearing.

And there was frustration over the level of secrecy surrounding the hearing with parents suspicious that the Ministry of Education wanted to sweep it under the carpet. was unable to contact Ms Delgaty for comment.