Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill

Date: 25th June 2025
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

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Closing date: 11^th July 2025

A new law introduced in the Scottish Parliament on the 17^th  March 2025 aims to limit the use of restraint and seclusion on children and young people in schools. The Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill, brought forward by Daniel Johnson MSP, proposes new rules to ensure the use of such practices is better managed, recorded, and reviewed.

If passed, the Bill would require the Scottish Government to issue formal guidance to schools on how and when restraint and seclusion should be used. Schools would need to consider this guidance when updating their policies. Schools would also have to tell parents about any incident involving restraint or seclusion of their child within 24 hours, and provide full details of what happened. Every incident would need to be recorded by the school and included in an annual report to the Scottish Government. The Government would then be responsible for sharing this data with Parliament each year.

The aim of the Bill is to improve transparency and accountability, and to better protect the rights and wellbeing of children in educational settings.

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