Use of Restraint in Special Schools
Case reference FOI2022/00471
Published 12 May 2022
Request
This is a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the use of restraint in special schools.
For each academic year from 2018-2021, please can you provide the following data:
Q1. The total number of incidents of restraint that took place in special schools and alternative provision sites in the local authority, and how many of these resulted in a physical injury to a child or young person?
Q2. The total number of incidents of seclusion that took place in special schools and alternative provision sites in the local authority, and how many of these resulted in a physical injury to a child or young person?
Q3. Do staff at special schools and alternative provision sites in the local authority receive regular training in the use of restraint?
a. If the above answer is yes, which type of training or provider is used, and how regularly (for instance, is it annual, bi-annual, or upon starting a staff role)?
Please break down the data for questions 1 and 2 by academic year, i.e. 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, and 2021/22 (so far).
Response
A1. We do not hold this information, it is held by individual schools. To obtain this information therefore you will need to contact each school direct. The contact details for Herefordshire schools are available via the following link: https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/directory/18/school-directory
A2. We do not hold this information, it is held by individual schools. To obtain this information therefore you will need to contact each school direct. The contact details for Herefordshire schools are available via the following link: https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/directory/18/school-directory
A3. It is a school decision to secure appropriate de-escalation training. The LA recommends that each school should access this training although the key focus of the training is de-escalation with the restraint element being a last resort.
There are two types of de-escalation training commonly used in Herefordshire, Team Teach and Price. The LA managed Behaviour Support Team is licenced to offer Team Teach. It is recommended that this is renewed every 3 years.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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