A TEACHING assistant from Cwmbran who tied a six-year-old girl to a chair will be allowed to return to the classroom — despite being found guilty of professional misconduct.

Annette Henderson, aged 52, used the sleeves of a jumper to strap a girl into the chair with a double knot at Maes Ebbw Special School in Newport.

Mrs Henderson then left the classroom with the girl trussed up - leaving another member of staff to untie her.

A disciplinary panel found allegations of unacceptable professional conduct against Mrs Henderson proven — but allowed her to continue working as a teacher.

She was handed a reprimand — a black mark on her record — but avoided being struck off from teaching.

The Educational Workforce Council was told the tied-up girl had special learning difficulties, was unable to talk and communicates only by pointing at pictures.

And the youngster — identified only as Pupil A — was tied to the chair after allegedly hitting another pupil at the special needs school she attended.

Mrs Henderson was reported to deputy headteacher Mark Evans and an investigation was launched at the Newport special school.

Presenting officer Patrick Llewelyn said: "Pupil A had hit another pupil and Mrs Henderson then led her to an adult chair and tied the arms of a hooded top around her waist in a double knot.

"She was later released by another teaching assistant”.

He added: "The young girl is a bright girl, small for her age, she is non-verbal and communicates by selecting pictures and has some behavioural issues."

Mrs Henderson, who had been working at the 150 -pupil school for 16 years, admitted tying up the pupil but denied using a double knot.

She earlier wept as she told the Fitness to Practice hearing: "I would never do anything to harm any child."

She said: "I put her on the chair to stop her attacking other pupils in the classroom.

"She was pushing the chair from the table and spinning around and I didn't want her falling. "I know it looks bad but it wasn't done maliciously, it wasn't done as a restraint but from a safety point of view."

But Mrs Henderson was found to have breached school rules on child protection and restraining pupils at the Cardiff hearing.