The incident happened at the Duke of Lancaster Academy in Fakenham and involved a male teaching assistant and a male pupil. According to a source, the member of staff was left "partially paralysed".

The school, on Highfield Road, caters for more than 100 pupils aged between five and 16 with communication and interaction difficulties.

Elizabeth Barneveld, the headteacher, said: “In relation to the claims regarding a staff member who was seriously hurt, an internal and external review process is under way.

"As this is ongoing, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time. We continue to work closely with the colleague involved and support them in any way we can.”

The incident happened in March, but details have only now emerged after a........

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