BACK pain is a common ailment among teachers – but a Derby physiotherapist thinks she has the solution.

Lorna Taylor has developed a seat for childcare professionals forced to sit on child-sized chairs in primary school classrooms.

Mrs Taylor says 360,000 teachers – along with childminders and nursery nurses – suffer serious long-term spinal problems because their jobs require them to work at low levels, on furniture inappropriate for their size.

So she has come up with the Jolly Back Chair, a piece of school furniture which relieves their suffering by correcting their posture and protecting their spine.

Mrs Taylor, lead practitioner with Children First Physiotherapy, designed the chair after visiting primary schools in Derbyshire.

She said: "Although I was there to assess pupils, I was approached by teachers seeking advice regarding back problems and, in one woman's case, she was lying on the floor in her classroom at break times to relieve the pain.

"I discovered that their problems stemmed from using child-sized classroom furniture, which, while ensuring that they are at the same level as their pupils, causes teachers to suffer problems with their backs, as well as their necks, hips and knees.

"It is a huge issue. I have spoken to plenty of teachers who have been reduced to tears and I know of at least one who has had to retire early because of back problems. But it is accepted as part of their job."

When an adult sits on a child's school chair – some of which are only 26cms high – it puts their knees into a position where they are higher than their hips.

This pushes the pelvis backwards, forcing the spine into a damaging, flexed "C" shape, instead of a healthy upright "S".

This can lead to problems with slipped discs and sciatica.

Mrs Taylor's chair took shape after she scoured the furniture market for a solution to the problem, but could not find one.

So she spent three months working on the Jolly Back Chair. It is still low-level, but has a wedge-shaped seat and adjustable back rest to ensure the spine remains straight.

It also has castors, which allow it to move and rotate beneath the sitter to prevent twisting at the waist.

Mrs Taylor started selling the chairs to schools in Derbyshire earlier this year and says the feedback has been excellent. She is now looking to sell her product nationwide.

Voice, the union for education professionals, based in Friar Gate, Derby, said: "There needs to be more awareness of teachers' back problems. Incidents should be reported in the same way as any other accident.

"We have suggested our members might want to look at the chair to see if it is something they would find useful."

At Borrow Wood Infant School, in Spondon, pupils have incorporated back care into lessons.

A school spokeswoman said: "Our staff have tried the chair and feel it is beneficial."