The Dunedin mother, whom the Otago Daily Times decided not to name to protect the identity of her child, says George Street Normal School's mistreatment of her child included dragging him from under tables and suspending him from school. The school did not properly consider alternative options before the suspension, she said.
After repeated stand-downs, the school this month suspended the boy, who has behavioural issues caused by developmental delays, until November.
After intervention from the Ministry of Education he will return to school for special classes this week, as part of a transition to a full return.
The ministry said it intervened over concern about what was ''a lengthy suspension for a 6-year-old boy''.
It would also talk to the school about the way it used restraint and the use of informal stand-downs.
School principal Rod Galloway defended the school's actions, saying it took into consideration the best interests of all children and staff.
The boy's mother remained unhappy, saying there was still uncertainty about when her son would return to school full-time.
She accepted her son, who was born 13 weeks premature and has oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), was not well behaved.
When he became overwhelmed he refused instruction and would hide under tables. The school had to take into account his developmental problems and owed it to him to be inclusive.
''This is his one shot at his education.''
Mr Galloway was ''just not interested in giving him a chance'', she claimed. At the board meeting when the decision was made to suspend her son, she said Mr Galloway labelled him the worst pupil he had dealt with.
Instead of calmly responding when the boy misbehaved, the school resorted to physically restraining him, which only made him lash out, she said.
On one occasion she said she arrived at the school to see him restrained by two teachers and hyperventilating after he had been dragged across George St from the junior block to the principal's office.
On five occasions she had been called to collect her son because he was misbehaving. The formal stand-down process had not been followed, she said, which the ministry had since told her was illegal.
Mr Galloway declined to be interviewed by phone, but issued an emailed statement defending the school's actions.
''Our actions toward ensuring a safe and conducive learning environment at George Street Normal School take into consideration the best interests and needs of all children and staff.
''Children are expected to comply with instructions and not be a danger to themselves or others.
''We work with parents and support agencies, including the Ministry of Education, to support children and their behaviour and learning leading up to a suspension.
''In all such cases the school follows Ministry of Education guidelines and maintains close contact with the Ministry of Education with the objective of reintegrating children into our school as soon as possible.''
Mr Galloway's statement did not directly answer questions asked by the ODT, including whether its use of physical restraint was appropriate.
Ministry of Education acting head of sector enablement and support Steve Stuart said it would work with the school to ensure the boy's return was a success.
''This will include a discussion around the use of restraint, which should only be used if there is an immediate safety risk to the child or to others,'' he said.
The ministry concluded the boy might have been sent home on occasions when his behaviour became too difficult to manage, and it would talk to the school about the need to formally stand down pupils.
