A proposed new law aiming to curb the use of restraint and seclusion in schools is under scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament, with a key committee today launching a public consultation on the issue.
The Education, Children and Young People Committee is examining the , introduced by Labour MSP Daniel Johnson, which seeks to minimise the use of the controversial practices in managing pupil behaviour.
If passed, the bill would require schools to formally report incidents of restraint or seclusion to parents and submit annual reports on the use of such interventions. It would also mandate the development of detailed national guidance to regulate when and how restraint or seclusion - when a young person is isolated in a space or room and prevented from leaving - can be used.
Restraint and seclusion in schools
The committee has now opened a ”, inviting responses from all interested parties - but from “teachers, school leaders and specialists” in particular - by 11 July 2025. It is expected to take oral evidence in the autumn.
Douglas Ross, a Conservative MSP and the committee convener, acknowledged the longstanding concerns around the issue.
“The use of restraint and seclusion has been controversial for many years,” he said. “This bill aims to minimise the use of restraint and seclusion, and we want to understand the implications of adopting this approach on children and young people, parents and professionals.”
Campaigners have raised alarms for years about the emotional and physical harm that restraint and seclusion can cause, particularly to children with additional support needs.
An investigation found that it was impossible to know “with any degree of certainty” how many incidents of restraint and seclusion were taking place in Scottish schools each year, which children were most affected - or how frequently and how seriously - because councils were failing to record the data.
It made 21 recommendations, including for local authorities to record all incidents of restraint and seclusion and for the government to publish “a rights-based national policy and guidance on restraint and seclusion in schools”.
Guidance on physical intervention
was published by the Scottish government in November 2024.
One of its main aims was to “prevent the need for restraint and seclusion”, with a focus instead on prevention of poor behaviour and early intervention.
However, the NASUWT teaching union has previously hit out at “the lack of practical guidance on offer”.
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