Worksafe has investigated an incident at Narrabundah Early Childhood School where a teacher was hospitalised after being kicked in the back by a student.
The school's interim principal Dr Michael Kindler confirmed the child with complex needs and challenging behaviour "lashed out" at the teacher in an internal hallway, leaving her seriously injured.
"You can never predict what a child can do," Dr Kindler said.
"The size and physical strength of the child in question is very, very tiny. It is an unfortunate coincidence of events that the child chose to lash out as it did and get the teacher in a part of her body she was particularly vulnerable to."
Dr Kindler confirmed the teacher was released from hospital on November 19 but required a walking frame to get around.
"She is in the care of Comcare, a rehabilitation consultant and case manager," he said.
He confirmed the injured teacher would not return to the school as she was moving interstate and said parents with children at the school had no reason to be concerned for their welfare.
"The union has visited the school and inquired about work safety practices. We have had a visit from Worksafe ACT and [on Friday 25th] received a report from the investigator," he said.
"The WorkSafe inspectors were satisfied that the teachers at this school are doing everything they can to ensure the safety of both the children as well as the teachers"
The school's board met on Friday to discuss the report and Mr Kindler said the board was fully supportive of the school's actions.
"The school has the support of the community. The school has a strong reputation in the community for managing its education programs successfully and, of course, the school is concerned for the welfare of the injured teacher. It was a rare event, an unavoidable event given teachers and children work together," he said.
There were 264 reported incidents of physical violence against teachers or school leaders in ACT public schools last year, a one-year rise of 26 per cent.
Australian Education Union ACT secretary Glenn Fowler said occupational violence was a "threshold issue" which needed to be looked at.
"It is a constant situation for us, our members are in precarious working environments," he said.
"We always need to ensure the right of a worker to be safe in their workplace is as fundamental to the right that a child has to an education. There is at times a tendency to prioritise the education needs over the safety of a worker, but for us both of those rights are inalienable, unquestionable and they must be comanaged."
An ACT Education directorate spokeswoman wouldn't comment on the specific details of the case but said it was "disappointing that an incident has occurred" as the safety of staff and students was a priority.