Commenting as the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) publish a report following their inquiry into how schools in England and Wales are monitoring, recording and analysing their use of restraint, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

"NAHT welcomes EHRC’s recommendation that the UK and Welsh governments should publish nationally agreed definitions of the different types of restraint, and that national training standards and guidance should be developed, tailored by school phase and type.

"All teachers and school leaders want to minimise the use of any form of restraint, but for too long government has failed to provide the necessary tools, training and guidance that schools need to approach and manage restraint more confidently and effectively. Clear nationally agreed definitions, mandatory recording and national guidance must be accompanied by full funding to deliver appropriate training for school staff according to their phase and school type, and to pay for the internal systems needed to establish effective recording systems."