Educators welcome ban on seclusion rooms

Educators welcome ban on seclusion rooms

3 November 2016

NZEI Te Riu Roa has welcomed the Minister of Education’s proposal to make the use of seclusion in schools illegal.

NZEI Executive member Lynda Stuart said there had been a strong focus in the sector on strategies for reinforcing positive behaviour in students, and schools would see it as a sensible move.

“There’s no place for seclusion rooms in our schools and early childhood centres in 2016,” she said.

“NZEI was part of the working group that developed seclusion and restraint guidelines with the Ministry of Education. We supported the elimination of seclusion and welcome the clarification.”

Ms Stuart said it was important to ensure that schools did not overreact to the changes.

“Schools are still able to use unlocked ‘time-out’ rooms where students can go to calm down to keep themselves and others safe,” she said.

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