Physical restraint rules – have your say

Input is sought from the education sector as consultation opens on updating the rules and guidelines on the use of physical restraint in schools.

The Ministry of Education announced it, supported by the Physical Restraint Advisory Group (PRAG), had begun consulting on what the future of physical restraint regulations will look like. It said, “The purpose of the consultation is to make sure that the new rules and guidelines are workable and sustainable, uphold the rights of children, whānau and school staff, provide clarity and support as to when and how physical restraint can be used, and prevent the use of physical restraint except as a last resort to prevent imminent harm.”

To view the draft guidelines, head to the Kōrero Mātauranga website(external link) and have your say.

The consultation document will be available in Te Reo Māori, nine Pacific languages and the five accessibility formats, with responses in all of these ‘warmly welcomed’.

The Physical Restraint Advisory Group (the Advisory Group) was established in September 2020 to help the Ministry of Education update the rules and guidelines following changes to the law around the use of physical restraint in the Education and Training Act 2020. It includes representatives of parents, the education sector and disability communities.

The agreed purpose of the Advisory Group is ‘to develop workable and sustainable rules and guidelines on
physical restraint in schools’ that:

● uphold the rights of children, whānau and school staff
● prevent the use of physical restraint except as a last resort
● provide clarity and support as to when and how physical restraint can be used.

“The consultation is open now for feedback until 31 March 2022 and we want to hear from you,” said the Ministry.