Teaching union calls for urgent guidance on pupil restraint

A TEACHING union has called on the Scottish Government to publish urgent guidance on the physical restraint of pupils during episodes of classroom violence.

At the NASUWT conference in Harrogate, members backed a motion saying there has been “a clear and complete abdication of responsibility on the part of the Scottish Government” in failing to provide new advice on seclusion and the use of restraint.

Statistics published from a union survey last year showed four in 10 Scottish teachers reported experiencing violence or physical abuse in the previous 12 months, while 93% said the issue had increased.

Draft guidance published by ministers in 2020 said restraint should only be used as a “last resort to prevent harm, with the minimum necessary force and for the minimum necessary time”.

However, the Scottish Government’s pledge to publish more concrete guidance by the end of 2023 was not met. Previous guidance on physical intervention and seclusion was published in 2017 and remains in place.

During the NASUWT conference, the motion’s proposer Rod McCready said: “Why are we still waiting for this essential guidance 18 months after the Scottish Government consultation closed?”

Mr McCready said NASUWT members have been punched, headbutted and spat at.

“That is degrading for teachers, as well as harmful,” he added.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Restraint and seclusion in schools must only ever be used as a last resort to prevent the risk of harm and existing guidance on physical intervention and seclusion, published in 2017, remains in place.

“We consulted on a draft of our new human rights-based guidance in 2022.

“We are committed to publishing final guidance as soon as possible.”