Physical intervention in schools: guidance

Foreword

The safety and wellbeing of our children and young people in schools is paramount. As Cabinet Secretary, ensuring that every child is protected from all forms of harm and abuse is something that I take very seriously.

Since the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland published their report on the use of restraint and seclusion in schools in 2018, relationships and behaviour in our schools have changed, impacted by both the COVID-19 pandemic, and other pressures including the cost-of-living crisis. I have heard that directly from our teachers and support staff – the Scottish Government’s Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research 2023 provided the detailed evidence on many of the issues we face.

Our schools are responding to the challenges posed by an increasing complexity of need in our young people and those arising from worsening behaviour. The incorporation of the UNCRC and our children’s rights focus means that our goal must be to improve relationships and behaviour in our classrooms whilst ensuring restraint and seclusion is only ever used as a last resort. I do not underestimate the scale of this task and I have set out the actions we will take in our Relationships and Behaviour Action Plan.

This new guidance, the third part of our Included, Engaged, and Involved series, advises, rightly, that prevention and early intervention must be our primary approach – meaning that we want to address the underlying causes of any distressed behaviour that poses a risk to the safety and wellbeing of others. By doing so, we can help schools deliver a safe and supportive learning environment and prevent the need for restraint and seclusion.

While the guidance rightly has a focus on prevention, it is vital that our school staff are supported to intervene confidently and appropriately when the need arises. Given the implications of using restraint and seclusion, the guidance advises on relationship-based approaches that can be used in their place.

This guidance was developed in collaboration with the Physical Intervention Working Group. I am grateful to all members for their time and commitment, and to the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland for chairing the group. I am confident that this guidance will support schools to continue the work they are doing to deliver a learning environment where all children and young people are protected, cared for, and in which their rights and needs are respected.

Jenny Gilruth MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills