Fears have been raised that children with additional needs may have been abused by more than one teacher at their school.
Linda McCall, 61, was found guilty in July 2021 of physically and emotionally abusing five children between the ages of five and seven, in 2016 and 2017. The five youngsters are all autistic and non-verbal.
McCall, who worked in a school in the Scottish Borders, was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work for the abuse.
Concerns were initially raised with the school and council, who cleared McCall of wrongdoing and did not flag up concerns with its child protection unit until late in 2018.
Now, parents of the pupils have raised concerns that McCall may have not been the only staff member abusing children.
In an independent report, made public last month, Andrew Webster QC described the delay as "reprehensible".
He also criticised the council's failure to recognise the significance of the allegations and highlighted deficiencies in the way it handled child protection concerns.
The findings have led SBC to draw up an urgent action plan to address the criticisms in the damning report, and the council has launched disciplinary action.
Mr Webster's report was initially delayed after 'further lines of inquiry' emerged, allegedly related to complaints made by parents against other staff, some still working at the primary school where McCall was formerly employed.
One of the parents who raised concerns urged SBC to give an assurance that action is being taken to protect children from potential abuse amid fears of a "whitewash".
She said she made a formal complaint about another teaching assistant who she claims was verbally and physically abusive to her child.
The mother said: "Regarding the inquiry into SBC's handling of complaints since the conviction of Linda McCall, there is a much bigger story here, and a need for transparency from SBC.
"Whilst the conviction of the SBC employee prompted the investigation by QC Andrew Webster, it also resulted in parents, some from the primary school where McCall was employed, asking for their formal complaints against members of staff to be re-investigated.
"The 'further lines of inquiry' SBC referred to in various news reports are these parents.
"Upon hearing the complaints verbally and looking into various historical information, the Director of Education, Ms Munro, was very insistent that I should be interviewed by Mr Webster as part of his inquiry.
"I was interviewed specifically regarding the verbal and physical abuse that my autistic child endured by an additional needs assistant still employed by SBC.
"In Mr Webster's damning report of SBC's investigation he states: 'I am conscious that one of the consequences of this report may be that consideration will be given to instituting disciplinary investigations and proceedings against SBC employees.
"I can only hope that if that does occur, the observations I make here inform the council's approach.
"It does beg the question - what is SBC doing with those complaints?
"It gravely concerns me that it will result in a whitewash by the local authority.
"We want justice for our children and not the usual platitudes so often heard nowadays about lessons being learnt.
"I don't want an apology and a review of procedures.
"I want an assurance that action will be taken so that other pupils aren't subjected to this treatment from an employee still in situ despite parents' complaints."
A spokesperson for Scottish Borders Council said: "During the course of Andrew Webster QC's independent inquiry into the council's handling of school assault allegations, connected to the conduct of a specific employee, a number of individuals came forward who were not directly involved but who offered other information
"Mr Webster interviewed these people and it was for him to determine whether their evidence was pertinent to the terms of reference under which he was appointed to conduct the independent inquiry.
"Any parents who have raised concerns directly to SBC will be listened to and, where appropriate, have these addressed under an appropriate process.
"It is not appropriate for the council to comment on matters relating to disciplinary proceedings."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here
