Response to DFE’s consultation regarding the use of ‘reasonable’ force and restrictive practices in education

Following high profile concerns regarding the treatment of disabled children in education settings, the Department for Education consulted on draft guidance for education settings regarding the use of ‘reasonable’ force and other restrictive interventions in education settings. The Social Work with Disabled Children sub-group welcomed this new document, recognising this an improvement on the existing guidance, while feeling there is still some room for further improvement.

While the majority of the new guidance is very specifically for schools and colleges, there are some areas of the guidance that are of general interest to Social Work and Social Workers and others that have very specific implications for Social Workers and Social Work practice. 

The group has therefore not commented on all elements of the proposed guidance but has:

• Endorsed the detailed responses to the consultation from the Challenging Behaviour Foundation and the National Working Group on Safeguarding Disabled Children
• Provided specific commentary on areas of specific interest to Social Work, recommending that ALL use of force in schools should be reported to parents
• Provided further commentary on the areas of more general interest to Social Work, including making sure school staff are trained to prevent incidents occurring.