Hon. Sophie McNeill questions the Education Minister regarding the use of protective isolation in WA schools, specifically the locking of middle school students in fenced outdoor locations, and seeks data on disciplinary actions related to restrictive practices. The Minister was unable to provide an immediate answer.

AnsweredQoN 1103Legislative Council
Asked
19 November 2025
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

Schools—Protective isolation
1103. Hon Sophie McNeill to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Education:
I refer to the use
of protective isolation as a restrictive practice in Western Australian
schools, and I note that 93% of submissions to the recently released Review of the School Education Act 1999 (WA) called for laws around these practices to change.
(1) Does the department consider it appropriate
for middle school students to be locked, using a padlock, in a fenced location
outside?
(2) Would the situation in (1) be appropriate for
a child with any form of disability?
(3) Are there any situations in which the
department would deem this kind of action appropriate and, if yes, can the
department please provide examples?
(4) How many staff and/or schools have faced
disciplinary action related to the use of restrictive practices so far this
year?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. There is an obvious error in
the answer. Let me just check it and I will provide it at the end of question
time if I can.

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