Parents can complain about use of physical restraints in schools through new independent portal

Last month, it was revealed children with special needs have been physically restrained in schools more than 460 times since the beginning of the academic year, a number of which resulted in injury. Picture: iStock

The Department of Education is to establish an independent portal for parents to lodge complaints about how a school has handled an incident of physical restraint.

Last month, it was revealed children with special needs have been physically restrained in schools more than 460 times since the beginning of the academic year, a number of which resulted in injury.

From September, the new portal will be open to parents who are unhappy with how a school has handled their complaints in cases where restraint has been used on a student.

The portal is intended to operate as an interim measure, pending the introduction of a statutory complaints procedure.

Complaints submitted by parents will be reviewed by an independent panel, including former inspectors, psychologists, a child safeguarding expert and stakeholder representatives.

The department is also to spend €2m on training and supports for schools on responding to behaviours of concern, which it defines as “behaviours that indicate a risk to the safety or wellbeing of the people who exhibit them or to others”.

The department said these supports were intended to help support students in distress, prioritise early intervention, de-escalation and wellbeing, while also ensuring staff were equipped to respond safely and appropriately in crisis situations.

Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton said the establishment of the new portal was about “trust and transparency”.