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Donor offers to help dinner lady Donor offers to help dinner lady
(1 day later)
An anonymous donor has offered to pay legal costs for a dinner lady who was sacked for telling parents their daughter had been bullied.An anonymous donor has offered to pay legal costs for a dinner lady who was sacked for telling parents their daughter had been bullied.
Carol Hill, who worked at Great Tey Primary School in Essex, was said to have broken rules on confidentiality.Carol Hill, who worked at Great Tey Primary School in Essex, was said to have broken rules on confidentiality.
She had acted after seeing a seven-year-old girl whipped with a skipping rope after being tied to a fence. She says she acted after seeing a seven-year-old girl tied to a fence and whipped with a skipping rope.
A retired businessman has offered to help after reading about her case on the BBC News website.A retired businessman has offered to help after reading about her case on the BBC News website.
Ms Hill and the donor, from Nottinghamshire, have discussed the case and she is considering his offer.Ms Hill and the donor, from Nottinghamshire, have discussed the case and she is considering his offer.
She has already spent more than £4,000 on appealing the decision but said she will continue her fight. She has already spent more than £4,000 on appealing against the decision but said she would continue her fight.
'Odd decisions''Odd decisions'
Speaking to the BBC he said: "It beggars belief that this dinner lady was dismissed over this matter. I will be happy to finance legal representation at any appeal that she makes. Speaking to the BBC, the donor said: "It beggars belief that this dinner lady was dismissed over this matter. I will be happy to finance legal representation at any appeal that she makes.
"I've become disenchanted with the modern trend for really odd decisions being made by bureaucrats. And one of the joys of getting older is that you can do something about it." "I've become disenchanted with the modern trend for really odd decisions being made by bureaucrats. And one of the joys of getting older is that you can do something about it.
"It seems clear to me that this lady was acting with only the best interests at heart and the decision to dismiss her is thoroughly ludicrous. It seems to be a bad decision on so many levels and I felt genuinely incensed." "It seems clear to me that this lady was acting with only the best interests at heart and the decision to dismiss her is thoroughly ludicrous. It seems to be a bad decision on so many levels and I felt genuinely incensed.
"If I can do something about it then I'd like to help.""If I can do something about it then I'd like to help."
It is a very kind offer and I feel overwhelmed Carol HillIt is a very kind offer and I feel overwhelmed Carol Hill
He emailed the BBC and asked that his details were passed on to Ms Hill but said he wanted to remain anonymous. He e-mailed the BBC and asked that his details be passed on to Ms Hill but said he wanted to remain anonymous.
The father of the seven year old girl who was being bullied has also asked that she is reinstated. The father of the seven-year-old girl who was being bullied has also asked that Ms Hill be reinstated.
It was during one of the after-school activities that Ms Hill had asked how his daughter was.It was during one of the after-school activities that Ms Hill had asked how his daughter was.
She told the girl's father that she had seen other pupils tie her up with a rope.She told the girl's father that she had seen other pupils tie her up with a rope.
But he said she did not name the alleged bullies.But he said she did not name the alleged bullies.
Mrs Hill said she has been overwhelmed by support since news of her dismissal hit the headlines this week. Ms Hill said she had been overwhelmed by support since news of her dismissal hit the headlines this week.
"It is a very kind offer and I feel overwhelmed. I have not said yes because I am looking at other alternatives at the moment but I would not rule it out."It is a very kind offer and I feel overwhelmed. I have not said yes because I am looking at other alternatives at the moment but I would not rule it out.
"I've had letters from people of all ages. I didn't do this for publicity or money I just want my job back. "I've had letters from people of all ages. I didn't do this for publicity or money - I just want my job back.
"I've been devastated since I lost my job but I will do everything I can to get it back.""I've been devastated since I lost my job but I will do everything I can to get it back."
The school said it could not discuss individuals, but confirmed a meeting had taken place last week and the person in question would not be returning.The school said it could not discuss individuals, but confirmed a meeting had taken place last week and the person in question would not be returning.
The school said their priority was to provide the "best possible education". The school said its priority was to provide the "best possible education".