Govan Law Centre’s (GLC) has responded to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee’s call for views in relation to the Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill. A copy of our written submission is available to view or download below.
Children and young people should be able to trust that their school will provide a safe and nurturing environment for them to learn. The use of restraint and seclusion in schools breaks that trust and has a profound and lasting impact on children and young people.
Our Education Law Unit has first hand experience of that impact which is set out below. The use of restraint produces accounts like this:
“I hated it. There were people holding me and lifting me. It hurt me. I felt I wanted to smack them because they were hurting me and it was sore.”
The use of seclusion produces accounts like this:
“I wasn’t allowed to learn with [other pupils]. I was in a room on my own and I felt angry. Sometimes I wanted to kill myself. I did not feel safe.”
Govan Law Centre supports the Bill and looks forward to adding its voice to the discussion as the Bill progresses through Parliament. A child first approach to Prevention, Safety, Accountability and Review should be taken.
