An image of a schoolteacher lying on the ground talking to a boy with autism was quickly shared around the nation as thousands wrote messages of support for this educator’s big heart.

Eventually the image reached the boy’s mother Steph Compton and when she saw her son LJ lying on the ground she knew what had happened and wasn’t at all surprised by assistant principal Mr Smith’s reaction.

LJ, who also has down syndrome, had been waiting for the school bus in September last year when he was told it was going to be late.

The then third grader just wanted to get home and showed his frustration by lying on the ground.