Motion

Motion TitleRestrictive Practices in Educational Settings

Motion TextThat this Assembly acknowledges the painful, ongoing debate and campaign for minimisation, if not eradication, of restrictive practices in schools and other education settings; applauds parents for bringing this subject to the awareness of the Assembly and the public; commends the efforts of the Department of Education, Department of Health and partners in working to establish guidance for use in both health and education settings; calls on the Minister of Education to commit to guidance and training that is non-discriminatory, person-centred and in the best interests of the child, namely from a human rights perspective; further calls on the Minister to repeal Article 4(1)(c) of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, and make other appropriate legislative changes, to respond compassionately to the difficult circumstances which can arise due to pupils’ challenging behaviours; calls on the Minister to undertake data gathering and monitoring and to review the special school and wider school estate to address the environmental factors which exacerbate distressed and dysregulated behaviours by pupils; and further calls on the Minister to commission an update to the 2013 Education and Training Inspectorate report on persistent and challenging behaviours in special schools and to provide a safe school environment in which the human rights of everyone in the school community are respected and avoidable harm liability is not a concern.

Motion CategoryCommittee Motion

Date Tabled to Business Office16/06/2025

Date Selected By Committee17/06/2025

Date of Plenary Debate30/06/2025