UK. Unions Call for Restraint Training for Teachers to Protect Against False Child Abuse Charges

Thousands of teachers in the UK fear chaos in the classroom if the Government goes ahead with plans to give them powers to restrain and search unruly pupils without proper training.

 Four out of five teachers surveyed by the Teacher Support Network warn that extra training is essential if they are to get a grip on misbehaviour during lessons and avoid injury and false accusations of abuse when breaking up fights. Some teaching unions believe trained security staff should be employed by all schools to carry out searches and impose discipline.

Teachers insist that sustained “low-level” disruption is what causes the most stress. A study by Warwick University found that while the number of serious incidents in 2008 was lower than in 2001, those involved were more severely affected.

Unions warn that unless they are given proper training, staff will be open to false claims of abuse 

By Matt Chorley and Brian Brady
 

the UK fear chaos in the classroom if the Government goes ahead with plans to give them powers to restrain and search unruly pupils without proper training. 

Four out of five teachers surveyed by the Teacher Support Network warn that extra training is essential if they are to get a grip on misbehaviour during lessons and avoid injury and false accusations of abuse when breaking up fights. Some teaching unions believe trained security staff should be employed by all schools to carry out searches and impose discipline. 

Teachers insist that sustained “low-level” disruption is what causes the most stress. A study by Warwick University found that while the number of serious incidents in 2008 was lower than in 2001, those involved were more severely affected. 

Teaching leaders claim that unless the issue is tackled in schools, the problems will continue into adult life. Problems range from name-calling and minor scuffles to homophobic and racist abuse, cyber-bullying and teachers being seriously assaulted. A survey of about 1,000 members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) found that more than half had been confronted with aggression in the classroom in the past year. Almost 60 per cent agreed that behaviour had got worse in the past five years. 

An investigation by The Independent on Sunday has established that children as young as six have been physically restrained by staff to prevent their aggressive behaviour from endangering teachers and other pupils.”The key issue is that teachers are particularly vulnerable to false allegations by pupils,” said a spokesperson from the NASUWT teachers’ union. “This can have a devastating effect on their professional reputation, as well as their personal well-being. Teachers have found that due to inconsistencies in reporting by police, a Criminal Records Bureau check will make reference to an allegation, even though it is unfounded.”The National Union for Teachers (NUT) is demanding an “unequivocal statement” from ministers that if teachers use their powers to search pupils or their rights regarding physical restraint, “there will be no unforeseen consequences arising from their actions”. “Teachers have a duty of care to pupils which may at times cause them to intervene to protect pupils from harming themselves or other pupils,” the NUT warned. “Many are currently not confident that if they take such action they will be supported by senior leadership teams, parents or the local authority.”

Case studies Dee Tomlin 

Music teacher at a secondary school in Oxfordshire 

“I was attacked at another school. I was taking choir practice and I went out and asked her not to kick a door. It doesn’t happen to every teacher, but it does happen. 

“Teachers suffer a huge amount of stress through behaviour issues. If behaviour is dealt with consistently, the kids know where they stand. If not, kids see a way round it. Most of the time it is a minority, but they are a very, very loud minority. What about the silent majority of kids who don’t misbehave? We have got to make sure the majority don’t suffer as well. 

“The new rules on restraint have to be dealt with very carefully. [Ministers] need to involve the unions and talk to teachers who have experience, not just deciding themselves sitting in offices in Whitehall.” Full Story

This entry was posted in ENGLAND, General, restraint and seclusion, School Violence, SCHOOLS, SOCIAL MEDIA, UNITED KINGDOM, zero tolerance. Bookmark the permalink.