A young inclusivity campaigner from Kent says children with additional needs being omitted from school photos is a “stark reminder” of a lack of acceptance.

A photographer made headlines last week after it was revealed they gave parents at a primary school in Aberdeenshire the option to buy a class photograph without children with additional support needs (ASN) included.

Wheelchair-user George Tappenden, from Tunbridge Wells, has a muscle wasting condition known as Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 and due to this cannot walk.

The 12-year-old said he could not believe that children, like himself, were being “erased” from their school journey.

Parents expressed their fury after it emerged additional images of a P5 class at Aboyne Primary School had been taken by a photographer from Tempest Photography without ASN children.

One of the children removed from the photographs was a wheelchair user, whose twin sister was distraught to learn she had been left out of an image.

The photography firm and local council have since apologised to parents, although the decision was not taken by the school.

In a statement, George said: “We like to (need to) believe we have come so far in inclusivity and acceptance here in the United Kingdom but this is a stark reminder we are far from it.

“Children with additional needs and disabilities need to be able to walk into shops, watch TV, read books, go to the cinema and see children and adults that they can relate to.

“Positive self-image and strong self-esteem is essential for children, especially those who already face many day-to-day challenges.

“It is equally important for non-disabled kids to see inclusive media representation so this becomes their normality and they grow up in a world with an inclusive mindset and take that into adulthood to build a better world.

“Knowing this company gave the option to remove children with additional needs in a school photo hurts so bad, like it would make it look untidy or ruin the photo when people are trying so hard for all kids to be seen in the world around us.

“What chance is there when children like me are being erased from the very start and safe place of their life journey - school. This is where it begins. This is where minds and hearts are shaped.”

Speaking to KentOnline, his mum Lucy Frost, added: “It just made me really sad. It has such a negative impact on the community that is trying to advocate for inclusivity.”

The Cornwall-based photography firm, which employs local photographers to take school photos across the UK, has said it “deeply regrets” the hurt caused.

Initially, the firm said it had launched an investigation, but has since said it “is not standard procedure” and the company is taking the matter “very seriously”.

The statement, published on X, formerly Twitter, said: “Recently, after capturing a class group photograph, one of our photographers took additional images of the class group which omitted some members of the class from the photograph.

“We deeply regret any upset this has caused and would like to sincerely apologise to the parents and children affected.

“We are a family-run business and photograph at schools across the UK and would like to reassure our customers that this is not standard procedure for our company and we are taking this matter very seriously.

“We are committed to implementing meaningful changes to prevent such an occurrence in the future.”

George has been nominated for the positive role model award for disability at the National Diversity Awards for his work. You can vote for him here.

Last year, the St Gregory's Catholic School modelled for Asda and a life-sized cut-out of him including his power wheelchair appeared in stores nationwide.

Speaking about the campaign, he added: “I wanted children to wheel into a store and see me when getting their school uniform and it give them a boost.”