A Local Authority v The Mother & Ors

Facts

The case concerned three siblings, Sage and Dakota, both of primary school age, and Ellis, who is younger. The local authority brought public law proceedings about them under the Children Act 1989. On 19 December 2025 the older children's primary school reported that Sage and Dakota said their mother had cut Dakota's face with scissors. Dakota had a cut to the left side of the face. That report led to a joint section 47 investigation by the police and the local authority. In that investigation the children also said they were hit often, and Sage said both parents hit them. The children were taken into police protection and placed with an emergency foster carer. The parents then agreed to section 20 accommodation. Child protection medicals found multiple marks on the children's bodies. The local authority did not allege non-accidental injury to Ellis. The children had already told their teachers in October and November 2025 about being hurt by their parents. The local authority issued proceedings on 20 January 2026, and an earlier court directed a split hearing. The local authority, supported by the children's guardian, sought findings that the parents had struck Sage and Dakota with implements, including a charger cable, and that the mother had cut Dakota with scissors. The parents denied ever using any physical punishment. The fact-finding hearing took place over five days before HHJ Stephen Brown.