A teenage boy was sexually assaulted by another student while at school, a mother has claimed.

The 13-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, attends a school in the Braintree district.

It is alleged he was abused in the school playground.

Essex Police originally refused to treat the allegation as a sexual attack, claiming it could only be a physical assault but upgraded the investigation after being questioned by the Times and after speaking to the alleged victim and his family again.

He is now receiving the appropriate support provided to alleged victims of sex attacks.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Officers received reports a 13-year-old boy was assaulted at around 12.30pm on Monday, September 11.

“After reviewing the evidence and following further discussions with the victim, police are now treating the incident as a sexual assault.

“The boy is receiving support from specially trained officers.

“The victim and his legal guardian have been updated at every stage of our investigation, which is ongoing.”

No arrests are believed to have been made.

The boy’s mother approached the newspaper following concerns about how the investigation was being handled.

She said: “He was attacked by seven different children, not all at once, it was all individually and they were pushing and shoving him, taking his legs from under him.

“They would stand on him, sit on his head and one of the boys sat on his back and sexually assaulted him.

“My son could see the teachers while they were doing it.

“These children are prepared to attack and sexually assault someone while they know senior members of staff are watching.

“These children do not fear the teachers or what can be done, it doesn’t make sense.”

The Times is not naming the school to protect the identity of the child.

His mother added: “The police arrived quite quickly with social services and said because it was no skin to skin contact they are going to downgrade it to a physical assault."

The investigation continues.