A teacher at a school for pupils with special needs slapped a young child across the face after being bitten on the hand.

Sandra Smith, 52, admitted assaulting a Mayfield School pupil by beating during an event at the Whitehaven school.

West Cumbrian magistrates heard that as Smith went to wipe the nose of the pupil, the child bit her on the hand.

The defendant then struck the youngster across the face with an open palm.

Smith was subsequently “shocked and remorseful” at her actions.

Prosecutor Diane Jackson said a witness had claimed Smith had grabbed the child’s head and asked: “Why did you do that?”

However, Smith, of Greta Avenue, Carlisle, denied this allegation.

Ms Jackson told the court how Smith, who had not previously worked in a special educational needs school, had been teaching in Derby before moving to Cumbria to look after her parents.

After being made redundant from a teaching role in Carlisle, she began teaching at Mayfield School in Whitehaven. Following the incident Smith was suspended from the school and was sacked on Friday.

Ms Jackson told Workington magistrates that the child’s mother could not tell how the incident had impacted on her child, as the pupil suffers from communication difficulties.

She said the child had resisted getting on the school bus in the mornings but the mother couldn’t be sure if this had started before or after the incident.

Defending, Sara Budniak, said the slap had been a split-second decision and Smith immediately went to hug and comfort the pupil.

“She was so shocked by what happened,” said Ms Budniak. “She is incredibly remorseful and has lost everything as a result of her actions.”

Ms Budniak said Smith didn’t know why the pupil had bitten her. Magistrates said the defendant had been in a position of trust and the pupil had been vulnerable because of their age and disability.

However, they accepted Smith’s actions had been isolated and totally out of character as she had taught for 16 years without a stain on her character.

Smith was ordered to serve a 12-week curfew, and pay a £65 victim surcharge with £85 costs.