Parents in Scotland have been invited to meet Government ministers to discuss new laws to regulate the seclusion and restraint of children in schools at the same time as police investigate their concerns.
Following the launch of a parent-led petition that has gathered thousands of supporters, the families are to go to Holyrood to speak to Scottish Government ministers on 17 March.
Beth Morrison (pictured with her son) launched the petition following allegations she and other parents made about the abuse of their children at Kingspark School Dundee. She said that parents will be pointing out to ministers that currently there is no guidance on the use of seclusion and restraint for children in local authority schools in Scotland.
She told Autism Eye: “We have reports from many parents saying their children are being dragged into these rooms and kept in appalling conditions in isolation. They are disabled children, our most vulnerable, and no one is controlling the use of these rooms.” Beth declared: “This is legalised child abuse.”
Police Scotland’s senior investigating officer, Bobby Dow, confirmed to Autism Eye that the re-investigation follows “varying degrees of complaints involving a number of children”.
The school refused to comment. However, a spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “The council is co-operating fully with an on-going police investigation and will be making no further comment until that has been completed.”
The police are understood to have started looking into allegations of abuse against the school in May 2013, but the investigations were dropped due to lack of evidence.
Beth claims that her son endured physical injuries after being restrained in school by four adults. She also alleges that his symptoms were consistent with positional asphyxia and that he was left with more than 60 bruises.
On 17 March parents will be asking the Government ministers to appoint a specific agency to monitor and evaluate the care in schools of vulnerable children with learning disabilities and other special needs. Morrison said: “We have inspectors monitoring education, we need inspectors closely monitoring the care these children have in schools.”
The parents will tell ministers that there is no monitoring of the length of time children spend alone in chill-out rooms, and of no risk assessment being carried out into the effect this might have on them.
Sign the petition
To view the National Guidance on Restraint and Seclusion in Schools petition, go to: www.scottish.parliament.uk/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01548
Published: 27 February 2015