Efforts are underway to tighten the law on the restraint of vulnerable children in Northern Ireland.
Newly elected politician Dr Patricia O’Lynn, of the Alliance Party, has put forward a Private Members’ Bill to offer greater protection for vulnerable children.
The move comes after mum Deirdre Shakespeare led a fight for tougher rules. She was prompted by her 10-year-old son, Harry, being strapped to a chair in school.
Shakespeare, from County Tyrone, said the school strapped Harry, who has autism, to a chair “like an animal”. It took place at Knockavoe School and Resource Centre, in Strabane, between September 2016 and May 2017.
Harry Shakespeare at the school that sparked his mum Deirdre’s campaign
Commitment to take action on restraint
The Alliance Party made a manifesto commitment to take action on restraint in schools by introducing ‘Harry’s Law’.
Shakespeare has campaigned for the recording and reporting of all incidents and the abolition of isolation rooms.
O’Lynn won North Antrim in the Northern Ireland Assembly at the province’s recent elections.
After her win, she spoke of how her work would focus on removing disciplinary procedures that are “ineffective and inhumane”. She also aims to reduce seclusion.
Northern Ireland ‘leading the way’
Shakespeare said the move shows Northern Ireland is leading the way in acting over human rights issues involving restraint and seclusion.
She said it would be an important piece of legislation that would not only bring oversight, “but accountability in changing the culture around these practices for our children”.
But uncertainty surrounds the functioning of Northern Ireland’s government.
The province’s Assembly has ground to a halt after the elections because the Democratic Unionist Party is refusing to play any part in a power-sharing government.
The party is unhappy over what it regards as barriers to trade after Brexit.
‘Work is underway’
A spokesperson for Northern Ireland’s Department of Education said: “The Department of Education’s review on the use of restraint and seclusion in educational settings has concluded.
“The report, including recommendations for change, was published on 25 March 2022 and is available on the Department’s website.”
The spokesperson added: “Work is underway to progress the six recommendations which were endorsed by Education Minister, Michelle McIlveen MLA.”
Related:
- Discrimination rife in NI schools
- Politicians back crackdown on restraint
- Call for tight rules on school seclusion
- School pupils ‘suffer broken bones’
- Mum in court move over school restraint
- Legal plan to protect our schoolchildren
- Nine in ten disabled children restrained
- Protest at chill-out room reforms
- Scots take seclusion fight to parliament
- Dad demands tougher laws on restraint
- Mum reports school for restraining son
Published: 22 May 2022
