FOI Request - Physical and Violent Incidents at Schools
Request 101003597949
1. Number of physical violent incidents reported at schools (for each year between 2019 - 2024)
2. Number of restraint incidents reported at schools (for each year between 2019 - 2024)
3. Number of teachers dismissed due to restraint incidents
4, The last time local policies and procedures on physical intervention for schools and teachers was reviewed/revised?
5. Details of the training provided to staff for physical restraint
6. Details of the guidance provided to staff for physical restraint
Response 18-07-2024
1. 2019 - 877; 2020 - 724; 2021 - 949; 2022 - 1510; 2023 - 2406; 2024 (to date) - 1178.
2. Any incidents will be recorded in individual pupil files. We would have to search through each file. At 13900 pupils x 5 minutes per file x 5 years = 5792 hours. This task would cost the Council in excess of £600 of staff time. In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (excessive cost), we are therefore unable to comply with this part of the request.
3. NIL
4. The physical intervention policy for teachers was last updated in 2015 and a new update will commence this year, based on the upcoming release of Include, Engaged and Involved Part 3: A relationship and rights-based approach to physical intervention in Scottish Schools. This also coincides with Moray's move away from BSS (Behavioural Support Strategies) as our behavioural support training to CALM (Crisis and Aggression Limitation and Management), which focuses on being a trauma- informed, attachment-based relational approach to positive behaviour support.
5. Physical restraint training has been delivered through BSS (as mentioned in previous question). Physical restraint is only used as a last resort, so the initial training involves a 2- day theory component first on how to reduce behaviours that cause concern. Where this will not be enough and physical restraint training is required, an additional 2-day course is also given to staff who will directly be working with the young people whose behaviours cause additional concern.
6. The guidance to staff around physical restraint is provided during the BSS training, where it is reinforced that it is a last resort and should only be used by those who have been given training.