❓ Hon. Alison Xamon asks about the use of seclusion in WA public schools. The Minister responds, clarifying the term used is 'protective isolation' and provides data on its use from 2016-2018, confirming recording and parental notification policies.
AnsweredQoN 1884Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I
refer to the use of seclusion in Western Australian public schools, and I ask: (a) in what situations is seclusion permitted; (b) are schools required to record the use of seclusion: (i) if yes to (b), what information is required to be included in the record; and (ii) if no to (b), why not; (c) does the department require parents/caregivers to be advised: (i) if no to (c), why not; and (d) on how many occasions was seclusion used by school staff in: (i) 2015; (ii) 2016; (iii) 2017; and (iv) 2018?
refer to the use of seclusion in Western Australian public schools, and I ask: (a) in what situations is seclusion permitted; (b) are schools required to record the use of seclusion: (i) if yes to (b), what information is required to be included in the record; and (ii) if no to (b), why not; (c) does the department require parents/caregivers to be advised: (i) if no to (c), why not; and (d) on how many occasions was seclusion used by school staff in: (i) 2015; (ii) 2016; (iii) 2017; and (iv) 2018?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 April 2019
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training
Response time
9 days
(a) Seclusion is not referenced in the School Education Act 1999 or the School Education Regulations 2000 and the Department of Education’s S tudent Behaviour in Public Schools Policy and Procedures refers to protective isolation, rather than seclusion.
Protective isolation may be used for the purpose of managing risk of harm. Regulations 38(a) and 38(c) of the School Education Regulations 2000 permit a school staff member may take reasonable action:
(b) Schools are required to record the use of protective isolation.
(b) (i) The following information is required to be included in the record:
(b) (ii) Not applicable
(c) Yes.
(c) (i) Not applicable
(d) The number of occasions that schools reported using protective isolation are:
Year
Number of
occasions
(i) 2015
Not applicable *
(ii) 2016
278
(iii) 2017
102
(iv) 2018
96
* The Department did not record this data prior to 2016
Protective isolation may be used for the purpose of managing risk of harm. Regulations 38(a) and 38(c) of the School Education Regulations 2000 permit a school staff member may take reasonable action:
(b) Schools are required to record the use of protective isolation.
(b) (i) The following information is required to be included in the record:
(b) (ii) Not applicable
(c) Yes.
(c) (i) Not applicable
(d) The number of occasions that schools reported using protective isolation are:
Year
Number of
occasions
(i) 2015
Not applicable *
(ii) 2016
278
(iii) 2017
102
(iv) 2018
96
* The Department did not record this data prior to 2016
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