Mum Advocates for Wearable Cameras in Schools After Son’s Alleged Abuse
A mother is pushing for body cameras in residential schools after her son with autism was reportedly abused
Bexleyheath, London, Autism, Abuse, Residential Schools, Jack’s Law
Bexleyheath: A mother named Leanne Batey is on a mission. She believes her son Jack, who has autism, was abused at his residential school. Now, she’s calling for staff to wear cameras to protect kids like him.
Leanne, 40, put Jack, 16, in a special school in Kent back in September 2021. At first, things seemed great. But then, during his second year, she noticed some troubling signs. Jack had scratches and bruises, and he stopped going out as much.
Things got worse when Jack started hitting himself and using language he never had before. Leanne and her husband, Michael, felt something was off. They even tried to communicate with Jack using cards to figure out what was happening.
Heartbroken, Leanne took Jack out of the school in November 2023. He started a new day school in April 2024, but she still worries about his safety. Jack now acts out to test if new people are safe, which is really sad.
In November 2024, Leanne launched a petition for “Jack’s Law,” which aims to require body cameras in special education schools. So far, it’s gathered over 27,000 signatures. She feels strongly that her son was abused and wants to make sure it doesn’t happen to others.
Leanne shared how she called Jack every day and visited him weekly, yet he still suffered. The guilt she feels is overwhelming. She thought a residential school would be the best option for him, but now she’s left questioning everything.
Jack was diagnosed with autism at two and had attended several schools before this one. Initially, it seemed like a good fit, but things changed quickly. Leanne noticed he was more withdrawn and had unexplained marks on his body.
When she raised her concerns, the school dismissed her worries, suggesting she was just missing her son. That made her feel even more frustrated. She knew something was wrong but felt like she was fighting against her own instincts.
After a troubling Christmas visit in 2022, where Jack began to hit himself, Leanne decided to keep him home while the school investigated. Unfortunately, the findings didn’t support her concerns, which felt like a huge letdown.
To gather more evidence, Leanne created a way for Jack to express himself using colorful cards. Each time, he pointed to symbols that suggested he was hurt by staff members. It was heartbreaking to see him struggle to communicate his pain.
Jack eventually became a day student but was so distressed that Leanne pulled him out completely. Now, she’s left feeling scarred and unsure about who to trust with her son’s care.
Leanne’s goal is to turn her pain into something positive. She wants to ensure that no other child has to go through what Jack did. The local authority insists they take child safety seriously, but Leanne feels let down by the system.
She’s determined to keep fighting for Jack and other kids who might be suffering in silence. It’s a tough road ahead, but she’s not backing down.