Natalie Pinnell, a mother of two, was devastated to find out that her nine-year-old daughter with additional support needs, Erin, was removed from a school picture by a photography firm. The incident occurred at Aboyne Primary school, where a photographer working for Tempest Photography took additional photos of a class which excluded three children with additional support needs. Parents were given a choice between pictures with and without the children, and Natalie’s daughter Erin was not included in the second set of photographs. Aberdeenshire Council clarified that the decision was not made by the school, and the link to the photographs was immediately removed.
Initially, Natalie assumed there was an innocent reason for Erin’s absence from the photo. However, after further investigation by the school, it was revealed that the three children with complex needs had been omitted when a second round of photographs was taken. Natalie expressed her devastation and pain upon discovering what had happened, questioning why her daughter was excluded and how such a hurtful decision could be made. Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, condemned the incident, calling it “shameful” and expressing his disapproval of such exclusionary actions.
Natalie is still awaiting answers as to why two photographs were taken and why parents were given the choice between them. She emphasized that the responsibility lies with the photography firm, not the school, and praised the school’s immediate response to investigate the issue and sever ties with the photography company. Natalie urged other parents of children with additional support needs to stay resilient in the face of such challenges and emphasized the importance of inclusion and empathy towards all individuals. Tempest Photography issued an apology, acknowledging the upset caused and pledging to implement changes to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Aberdeenshire Council expressed regret over the incident and stated that the issue was taken up with the photography company directly, deeming such actions unacceptable. The council affirmed the school’s commitment to inclusivity and engagement for all students, regardless of their needs. Meanwhile, parents and school staff have come together to support each other and ensure that such exclusionary practices are not repeated. The incident has sparked conversations around the importance of inclusion, empathy, and understanding for children with additional support needs, highlighting the need for continuous efforts to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all students.
