Families of children with additional support needs have called for new guidelines on the use of physical restraints in schools to be enshrined in law.
The BBC has seen draft proposals that do not rule out the use of “vulnerable” face-down restraints – although the final guidelines are expected to be stricter.
Children’s Commissioner Bruce Adamson said the guidelines must preclude restraint and have the power of law.
The Scottish Government has previously said restraint should only be a last resort.
Restraint and seclusion, where someone is locked in a room or safe space, has often been used in educational settings – particularly for children with disabilities and additional support needs.
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New guidelines are due to be released on Tuesday as part of a public consultation.
It comes four years after a report by Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner uncovered thousands of obsessive-compulsive incidents that have affected hundreds of children.
The proposals, presented to the BBC, initially said face-down restraint should be avoided, but did not rule it out.
However, an updated version sent out on Thursday evening said the prone restraint “should not be used”.
A parent group advising on the guidelines said this change would make no difference unless the rules were legally binding.
Kate Sanger, whose daughter Laura has a rare genetic disorder and severe learning disabilities, said: “They only changed the wording because of BBC coverage and recent questions in Parliament.
“Teachers will continue to use physical restraint, including face-down restraint.
“We’ve had policies before and they haven’t done anything to protect children. They must be legally enforceable and make it clear that the prone position should never be used.”
A survey by the charity Positive and Active Behavior Support Scotland (PABSS) found that children as young as three have been isolated or held back at school for the past two years.
Parents reported that more than 600 children were isolated or detained. More than nine out of ten of these children were injured as a result.
Ms Sanger, who was a member of the Scottish Government’s Working Group on Physical Intervention, said she was appalled that locking children in a room was still included.
“It’s hard to believe these days,” she said.
“If we continue to treat the most vulnerable in society this way, it will take serious injury or death to bring about change, and that shouldn’t happen.”
Kate Sanger’s daughter Laura was repeatedly tied up and placed in seclusion while she was at school.
There is a lot of talk in the draft guidelines about the use of seclusion – which means locking someone up in a room or safe space.
Laura’s mother, from Perthshire, says the trauma stayed with her.
“She can’t have a room with the door closed because she’s scared,” says Kate.
“I suppose she thought about being locked up in those places again. For years she had to have a bedroom with the door removed.
“Back then, I wasn’t aware of the influence of seclusion and restraint. Laura came onto the stage where the moment she saw her uniform she started screaming.”
Laura is now 30. Her mother has campaigned for years to ensure Scotland has legally enforceable policies and proper training for teachers.
Kate says teachers need the right training to understand that all behaviors have a function.
“Why would we nail a child with a learning disability to the ground when we wouldn’t nail a non-disabled child? Nowadays that is shocking.”
Teachers’ unions were also part of the Scottish Government Working Group.
EIS Assistant Secretary for Education and Equality Andrea Bradley said the focus should be on “prevention” and ensuring classrooms are adequately equipped.
She said the EIS would “certainly not” endorse the use of the prone position.
The UK government issued guidelines in 2014 stating that the prone position should not even be used on adults.
The Scottish Government previously said it could not comment on the details of the guidelines before changes were made to the draft.
A spokeswoman said: “Physical intervention, physical restraint and seclusion should only ever be used appropriately as a last resort and in the best interests of the child or young person.
“We are working with partners, including the Children and Young People’s Ombudsman, on new human rights-based guidance to minimize the use of physical intervention and segregation in schools.
“We are preparing to consult the draft guidance and are keen to hear a wide range of views.”
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