A school is investigating a complaint that a four-year-old girl was forgotten and left unsupervised in her classroom, not once but twice.

Mum Jodie Cooney said earlier this week a member of staff at Hollingwood Primary in Great Horton had put her daughter, Yvi Mae Cooney, in a makeshift isolation area in the classroom as a disciplinary measure.

But when the reception class went for lunch her daughter was forgotten about and left unsupervised, she claimed.

And she said it was the second time it had happened in two months.

The school’s head teacher said an investigation had begun into the matter and the school was reviewing its procedures.

Miss Cooney, of Great Horton, said about six weeks ago Yvi had been separated from her classmates and placed in another area of the classroom.

But when everyone went for lunch, Yvi told her mother that she had been left on her own.

She said: “She told me she had been left in the classroom. She said she had been crying because she was scared and upset.

“When they came back and realised that Yvi was still in the classroom she ended up going for her lunch with one of the teachers.”

She said after Yvi told her what had happened, she went in to the school to speak to the staff.

Miss Cooney told her daughter if it happened again, she should go and look for help.

She said on Monday she got a phone call from the school saying a similar incident had happened again that lunch time.

Miss Cooney said this time, her daughter had left the classroom to find an adult.

She said: “If it hadn’t been for my daughter getting up and leaving the classroom, God knows how long she would have been there.”

Yvi’s grandmother, Shirley Cooney, added: “They didn’t even mention how long this was, but any time a four-year-old child is left on their own is not appropriate.”

Mrs Cooney said the family had been told Yvi was disciplined for not listening to teaching staff, but she said her granddaughter was currently having problems with her hearing.

She said: “The teacher said she wasn’t listening but I personally think she didn’t hear the teacher.

“Even if she was misbehaving, it is usually two children who are misbehaving together, but it always seems to be Yvi that gets left.”

Miss Cooney said she had lodged an official complaint with the school.

Head teacher Jonathan Duke said: “We share the concerns of Miss Cooney and want to assure her and all parents that their children are safe at Hollingwood Primary School.

“Ofsted judged the care, support and guidance given to pupils to be good at our last inspection.

“An investigation is taking place and we are reviewing our procedures.

“We will work closely with the family to resolve this issue.”