Thomas Byrne
Ceist:160. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of guidelines for schools on the issue of restraint or intervention. [47223/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 19 November 2019
Ceisteanna (160)
Freagraí scríofa
The NCSE’s Policy Advice Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Schools (2015) recommended that the Department of Education & Skills develop guidelines for schools on the prevention and management of crisis student behaviour situations in schools.
Having considered the matter, my Department undertook to develop new guidelines for schools on the prevention and management of challenging behaviours (including the use of physical interventions) where such behaviour is considered as likely to present serious risk of physical harm to the student concerned and/or others within the school environment.
A Working Group was established to develop the guidelines and the work of this Group is at an advanced stage.
In April this year, to support the work of the Group, I initiated a public consultation seeking contributions and views on the appropriateness of the use of physical intervention and physical isolation in schools. This was undertaken by way of an online questionnaire and over 2,600 responses were received.
Further consultation was undertaken with education partners yesterday (18th November 2019) where the content of draft Guidelines was reviewed and discussed.
The Working Group will review the draft Guidelines in light of issues raised at the consultation prior to submitting their final draft to my Department.