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| Mother calls for new law on restraint in schools | Mother calls for new law on restraint in schools |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Beth says Calum would tell her every day "please, mummy, no school, school's scary" | |
| Beth says Calum would tell her every day "please, mummy, no school, school's scary" | |
| A mother whose son was physically restrained at a special school when he was 11 is launching plans for a new law in his name. | A mother whose son was physically restrained at a special school when he was 11 is launching plans for a new law in his name. |
| Calum Morrison, now 23, has learning disabilities, autism and epilepsy. | Calum Morrison, now 23, has learning disabilities, autism and epilepsy. |
| His mother Beth said Calum was still traumatised more than a decade later by how he was treated at school. | His mother Beth said Calum was still traumatised more than a decade later by how he was treated at school. |
| She wants the current guidelines on physical restraint to become legally enforceable, with mandatory recording and reporting of all incidents. | She wants the current guidelines on physical restraint to become legally enforceable, with mandatory recording and reporting of all incidents. |
| Ms Morrison also wants compulsory training for all teachers and support staff in how to de-escalate difficult situations and understand children's needs so that physical restraint can be avoided. | Ms Morrison also wants compulsory training for all teachers and support staff in how to de-escalate difficult situations and understand children's needs so that physical restraint can be avoided. |
| "I think the people of Scotland will be shocked to learn that currently there is no law that protects their child being physically and forcefully restrained in school or educational settings," she said. | "I think the people of Scotland will be shocked to learn that currently there is no law that protects their child being physically and forcefully restrained in school or educational settings," she said. |
| The charity Enable Scotland is helping her efforts to launch Calum's Law - and Labour MSP Daniel Johnson said he was exploring the possibility of a members' bill in the Scottish Parliament. | The charity Enable Scotland is helping her efforts to launch Calum's Law - and Labour MSP Daniel Johnson said he was exploring the possibility of a members' bill in the Scottish Parliament. |
| The Scottish government said restraint in schools must only ever be used as a last resort. | The Scottish government said restraint in schools must only ever be used as a last resort. |
| It added it was exploring options for strengthening the legal framework in this area. | It added it was exploring options for strengthening the legal framework in this area. |
| Teaching unions have previously said the focus should be on "prevention" and on making sure classrooms are appropriately resourced. | Teaching unions have previously said the focus should be on "prevention" and on making sure classrooms are appropriately resourced. |
| Beth Morrison began campaigning after her son Calum was restrained when he was about 11 | |
| Restraint and seclusion, which involves locking someone in a room or safe space, have often been used in educational settings - particularly for children with disabilities and additional support needs. | Restraint and seclusion, which involves locking someone in a room or safe space, have often been used in educational settings - particularly for children with disabilities and additional support needs. |
| Ms Morrison told the BBC that since she started campaigning 12 years ago more than 2,500 other families had contacted her because their children had been hurt while being physically restrained. | Ms Morrison told the BBC that since she started campaigning 12 years ago more than 2,500 other families had contacted her because their children had been hurt while being physically restrained. |
| She said hundreds of cases were reported to her each year and almost all the children who had been injured were of primary school age - and all of them had additional support needs. | She said hundreds of cases were reported to her each year and almost all the children who had been injured were of primary school age - and all of them had additional support needs. |
| "These kids are not naughty," she said. "They're scared. Calum himself says that. | "These kids are not naughty," she said. "They're scared. Calum himself says that. |
| "We have got to make sure the most vulnerable children are protected in law. These kids are getting bruises and broken noses and they're being traumatised." | "We have got to make sure the most vulnerable children are protected in law. These kids are getting bruises and broken noses and they're being traumatised." |
| Calum's family are campaigning for a law in his name | Calum's family are campaigning for a law in his name |
| Earlier this year the Scottish government published draft guidance on the use of physical restraint in school settings but parents and Scotland's Children's Commissioner said it was not good enough because it was not legally binding. | Earlier this year the Scottish government published draft guidance on the use of physical restraint in school settings but parents and Scotland's Children's Commissioner said it was not good enough because it was not legally binding. |
| Families call for restraint rules to be enforced | Families call for restraint rules to be enforced |
| Ms Morrison said: "We have been campaigning for change now for over a decade and it's very clear to see that the current approach to non-statutory guidance doesn't work. | Ms Morrison said: "We have been campaigning for change now for over a decade and it's very clear to see that the current approach to non-statutory guidance doesn't work. |
| "In this day and age, we should have a better understanding of how to work with young people - especially those with learning disabilities - without the use of forceful restraint. | "In this day and age, we should have a better understanding of how to work with young people - especially those with learning disabilities - without the use of forceful restraint. |
| "The experience of this behaviour on young people is traumatising. It affects their social skills, their enjoyment of school and - ironically - their subsequent behaviour at school." | "The experience of this behaviour on young people is traumatising. It affects their social skills, their enjoyment of school and - ironically - their subsequent behaviour at school." |
| In Safe Hands | In Safe Hands |
| The charity Enable Scotland said not enough progress had been made to keep children safe and that the Scottish government's draft guidelines, published in June, were "too little, too late". | The charity Enable Scotland said not enough progress had been made to keep children safe and that the Scottish government's draft guidelines, published in June, were "too little, too late". |
| Four years ago, the report "In Safe Hands" by Scotland's children's commissioner revealed thousands of restraint incidents, affecting hundreds of children. | Four years ago, the report "In Safe Hands" by Scotland's children's commissioner revealed thousands of restraint incidents, affecting hundreds of children. |
| Hundreds of injuries at special schools | Hundreds of injuries at special schools |
| Enable Scotland has now published its own report "In Safe Hands Yet?" which says children are still not protected. | Enable Scotland has now published its own report "In Safe Hands Yet?" which says children are still not protected. |
| Jan Savage, the charity's director, said: "In simple terms, the rights of children and young people in Scotland are still not protected and it's unacceptable." | Jan Savage, the charity's director, said: "In simple terms, the rights of children and young people in Scotland are still not protected and it's unacceptable." |
| She said that four years after the investigation by the children's commissioner draft guidance was just not good enough. | She said that four years after the investigation by the children's commissioner draft guidance was just not good enough. |
| "Action is needed to protect children's rights in law, and to set out a clear strategy for systematically reducing restraint and seclusion in Scotland to a point where it is no longer a feature of our education system in Scotland," Ms Savage added. | "Action is needed to protect children's rights in law, and to set out a clear strategy for systematically reducing restraint and seclusion in Scotland to a point where it is no longer a feature of our education system in Scotland," Ms Savage added. |