Question reference: S6W-26333
- Date lodged: 20 March 2024
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Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 April 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects statutory guidance for the use of seclusion and restraint in schools to be in place.
Answer
Restraint and seclusion should only ever be used as a last resort to prevent the risk of injury. The Scottish Government is developing new human-rights based guidance on the use of physical intervention in schools. We are due to publish the consultation analysis report on our draft physical intervention in schools guidance very shortly. We will then reconvene the physical intervention working group to make final revisions to the guidance.
Progress with this work can be followed via the working group’s webpage .
We recognise that there have been calls for further legislation. Alongside the publication of the guidance, and in line with our original commitments, we are exploring options to strengthen the legal framework in this area. This includes the option of placing the guidance on a statutory basis.