Think 10/98 - Reason Not Restraint |
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This web site is dedicated to my daughter, Jade, aged 6. She is my inspiration for this campaign "Think 10/98 - Reason Not Restraint". Michelle Chambers November 2006 |
Jade Aged 6 "What are we doing restraining six-year-old children in this manner?" John Friel Barrister |
"The most
vulnerable children in our society today are those with special
educational needs (SEN). We need to protect, nurture and support them, so that
their potential can be achieved. Many children with SEN are
inappropriately placed in mainstream schools, where teaching and
non-teaching staff are finding it increasingly difficult to manage their
behaviours and end up resorting to physical restraint without
appropriate training or support. Physical restraint should only ever be used, as part of a planned, structured and documented behaviour management strategy, where staff members have the appropriate training and support to intervene effectively. It should only be used in consultation with parents or carers and it will usually be a last resort, when all other forms of behavioural intervention have been exhausted. I am seriously concerned that the new Education and Inspections Bill, reinforces the right of teaching and non-teaching staff to use reasonable force in schools, without giving those staff statutory guidance in this area. It will continue to be left to individual staff members and their headteachers to interpret what is allowed and training in this area and support for staff, will continue to be at the discretion of headteachers or local education authorities. In short, the future for our most vulnerable children looks bleak unless we can convince the authorities that physical restraint, as part of a comprehensive behaviour management strategy requires statutory guidance and that there is a minimum standard of training and support for staff in schools, when they are working with challenging children and situations. That is why I have pledged my support to the Think 10/98 campaign and I wish them every success in the future." Allan Willis Specialist Educational Psychologist |