Lincolnshire parents outraged at school 'snooping'

Parents of Lincolnshire children who have just started school have been sent an 83-point Big Brother-style questionnaire probing into family life.

Lincolnshire Community Health Services has begun sending out questionnaires to parents of every child who entered reception class in September.

Along with routine health questions, parents are asked whether their child lies, has temper tantrums, steals from home or has at least one good friend.

Other questions directed at parents include "did you enjoy school?" and "how does your child engage/connect with strangers?"

Lincolnshire Community Health Services insists the pilot questionnaire is confidential and will only be viewed by school nurses.

Yet county parents are outraged by the invasion into their home life.

Full-time mum Rachel Ponder, 34, received a questionnaire for her four-year-old son Christopher Taylor who is in the reception class at Waddington Redwood Primary School.

"I was shocked at how intrusive the questionnaire was and I don't understand what concern much of it is to them," said Miss Ponder, of Brant Road, Lincoln.

"At that sort of age children don't know what a best friend means and can be fickle with friendships anyway. The questions about myself were very concerning, such as do I have someone to talk to. This makes me wonder if they are concerned I might go mad and hurt my child or something."