Pupils across South Wales have been making accident compensation claims following injuries at school.
The South Wales Echo revealed that £45,000 has been paid out in compensation between 2007 and 2010. Numerous freedom of information requests to councils in the area revealed that Cardiff Council was responsible for paying the most compensation at almost £18,000. Meanwhile, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council paid out £11,950, while Caerphilly Council awarded £10,250.
Among the accident compensation claims was a claim from a child who fell on broken steps, who received a payout of £3,000. Another young person who tripped over a gate fixing was awarded £1,850, while a child who caught his finger in a door received £4,000 and a 13-year-old girl was given £2,000 after a stacked table fell on top of her.
A spokesman for Caerphilly council told the paper: “Every effort is made to ensure the health, safety and welfare of pupils is paramount when they are in school, but inevitably accidents do happen.
“It is important that schools can evidence that they have taken all reasonable measures to discharge their duty of care towards pupils in order to defend claims for compensation.”