There's no Such Thing as a Safe Restraint.

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Ooooh please!! If you are on the spectrum so what! I am on the spectrum as well and NO I did not throw tables at school either BUT.......................I have met some wicked teachers in my time. None so more that ones met recently! A child will respond to someone if they TRUST THEM. If you are getting kids kicking off in YOUR classroom you should look at yourself!

Teachers are in a very difficult postition. There is nowhere near the expertise or support available for teachers. What do we expect teachers to be? Counsellors? Nurses? Behavioural Advisors? Nooooo of course not. Teachers do not get any support and little advice. It is not the teachers I have issues with it is the LA expecting children to cope and function in a main stream school WITHOUT support.

Our secondary school has adopted the Whisper and Jacobs ladders techiques, restraints are rarely used and NEVER on my son.

My son was throwing tables about but then he was diagnosed with Epilepsy. Meltdowns are similar and could well be epileptiform activity. What is the trigger, why is that child frightened.

Suffer the little children? Every child matters? Yes they do and restraint need never be used. Trust me, it can be done, it is being done very successfully. Gently gently everyone............ please.

Not at all. So many teachers are under so much pressure these days - headmasters find teachers who can deal with kids with special behavioural problems well, so give them the whole lot with no break time, not enough teaching assistance, and then you end up with these kids having massive meltdowns and throwing tables. Why? Because the poor teacher is busy trying to teach the other 20 or 30 children in the classroom and share his or her attention between them all, so they can all learn and grow together. Then that one problem kid feels they haven't got enough attention so throws a wobbly because they know it gets a reaction, which disrupts the rest of the class from their learning and endangers everyone else... don't you think they have to learn? So what if they have behavioural problems - they need to learn that you just can't do that. Sure, avoid the situation if you can, of course, but sometimes you can't and restraint is needed simply so as not to endanger the rest of the pupils and the teacher.

So many kids - with 'problems' or not - are such little toerags these days, no wonder society is going down the tubes. Bring back the strap and the cane and teach a bit of discipline the old-fashioned way. Sometimes it's about the best thing you could do as far as I'm concerned - you certainly never saw the problems with teenagers you have these days!! I'm 21 and I'm talking like this; now that should be saying something...

So yeah, sure, gently gently, well are you going to fund all the extra assistance and support these teachers are crying out for? Up their paychecks so they get the pay they deserve? Do all those piles of paperwork in the evenings? Fill in while they're off at courses and seminars learning how to deal with the little children sent to school unable to spell their own name or with no idea of their basic colours, unable to count to ten? Do not give teachers any stick - they have an incredibly rough deal and I seriously doubt any of the 'softly softly' crowd have much idea of the reality of teaching these days.


/RANT

Ooooh dear well aren't we singing from different hymn sheets! No way would I ever want to see corporal punishment brought back, the system is barbaric enough.
Yes lets put untrained mums who want to earn a bit of pin money in schools to look after Special Educational Needs Children! I am a trained nurse and I see the same in medicine. Anything to save money! So we have teachers who through no fault of their own have no experience, training or often support with these children! Hey this is a great system aint it!

Money? Where is the money coming from? Well maybe less managers, less meetings, less corporate hospitality, less corruption and less greed may save a bit eh! How is it that everytime I want to speak to someone they have just GONE INTO a meeting? They are never coming out.

How about RING FENCED funding for special needs children in main stream school? How about listening to the parents? How about including the parents or are we only there to blame?

Children respond to kindness, gentleness, softness of tone, they respond to those they can trust. If a child or adult on the spectrum gains your trust you have won. Simple as.

I am soooo glad I am not in one of your classes. I would be terrified of you. Did you not know that kids on the spectrum FEAR in massive doses? Don't you know that?

Uhm, I'm ON the spectrum, I have Aspergers, and I grew up in a big classroom... I know exactly what it's like, thank you. And the teachers I'm talking about actually HAVE got training - they're special needs teachers and extremely well qualified. If they don't have the qualifications and the training they aren't allowed to teach special needs. Parents more often than not ARE included, and often have no idea how to control their children either - half the time they're half the problem. But the point remains, you can have all the experience and training and knowledge in the world, but it isn't going to help you when you've got a room full of small children and one of them throwing furniture at people, and you're the only one there who can stop that child before he hurts one of the other many in the room.

I can see it now... "Hey, Johnny, *duck*, it's ok *dodge*, I know you don't - *duck* - want to *dodge* hurt anyone, you're just *jump* a little upset *duck* but that's ok *dodge*..." *assists 3 screaming, bleeding other children* *calls ambulance*...

Restraining measures topic

I have had to apply the restraints if the order was there. I also had the responsibility to check them and the resident per the doctor's order. Failure to do this would mean disciplinary measures, up to and including dismissal for failure of care and neglect. Many times the family wants the loved one to have a light restraint (seat belt) so the loved one will not jump out of the wheelchair. Side rails on beds are also a form of restraint. Any thing that restricts movement is considered a restraint. Even certain anti psychotic can be classified as restraints. Mentally confused people have been known to try to climb over the bed rails and suffer injury.
Sometimes the family does not want restraints, and must pay for extra staff and care to ensure the resident of the nursing home is observed. The residents pay enough money for basic care and then must shell out more for extra supervision. It is not easy being a caregiver in these circumstances. And the issue of restraints compounds this.

Yup I am on the spectrum too. Want a medal? Ummm I think you will find as an experienced SEN teacher that the SEN code of practice recommends that reasonable steps be taken to accomodate a child with special needs! So what is wrong with moving the children into the playground away from the child who is melting down? Happens at our school.

The presence of other people watching and sometimes laughing makes matters worse. It is far easier to move 30 children into one safe area than one child who is in distress half a mile up a corridor!

If a child collapsed on the floor having a grand mal seizure you would do that so why in a meltdown should it be any different? Where is your initiative? As a teacher you should have plenty?

I have seen MY son dragged down a corridor have you? I have scraped my son up from the pavement when he went running from school so scared of the headteacher he almost got run over. Every child is someone elses child. We entrust them into your care. Please do not hurt or frighten them. I am a tough old bird who cares not about the tones of the posts I have seen on here but to some they are scary. So if your posts are scary imagine how you would appear to a child.

Children are the future, Autistics are part of that. Let us harness their autistic intelligence and show them through gentle methods the way to go. If it was your child being restrained maybe you would feel differently. But then empathy for those of us on the spectrum is a tad tricky!

I don't have a son, so no, I haven't.

But moving 30 children is disruptive - why should their learning be disrupted and made more difficult for the sake of one child seeking attention? That would be giving in to his demands, and he would just keep on going. You reward good behaviour and give praise when it's due, and if there's bad behaviour there are consequences. Throwing a tantrum and throwing furniture is extremely dangerous and disruptive, and yes, selfish. You can't interrupt the learning of another 30 children several times a day because one is being naughty. Just because you've got Aspergers doesn't mean you're incapable of learning right from wrong and reward vs punishment. And you should know the importance of routine and stability for an autistic child - hauling them all out into a playground in the middle of a lesson is going to do far more harm than good for the rest of them.

Look around at what's happening in the world today. Clearly the 'softly softly' approach hasn't worked - we've now got teenagers running around killing each other and anyone in their way, crime rates are soaring amongst youth, 11-year-olds convicted of rape and murder... see the problem here?

Nope that don't convince me either with the greatest respect!

Disruption? What is more disruptive? 30 kids watching a child poorly, in distress and being shouted at and restrained? Or

Moving the class gently and quietly into a safer zone?

I would opt for the second option personally. And what exactly do you mean by this

<<difficult for the sake of one child seeking attention>>

Actually attention is the last thing that child wants in the middle of a meltdown! What they want is a table to HIDE UNDER! They are frightened, scared, lonely and alone. This is NOT NAUGHTY BEHAVIOUR.....................it is quite simply overwhelming fear...............sensory overload........................anxiety........................GET IT? These kids ARE not naughty they are FRIGHTENED!

Softly softly?? If that is being kind? Being gentle? Being considerate? Then I don't believe we have tried those methods............hey but ya know they may just work!

No, the child in question is seeking attention, pure and simple. He's not having a meltdown, he's throwing a tantrum because he isn't getting his own way. The rest of the class tend to just ignore him now and continue their work, unless he's throwing furniture, in which case they're more likely to get out of the way and seek shelter and wait till one of the adults stops him and restrains him for a few minutes (not in a restraint, I should add for clarity).

With respect how do YOU know that the child is seeking attention pure and simple? Are you a pscyhologist as well? Gosh you must be remarkable. So you know what triggered that child do you? Sounds to me as though you have a poor handle on the situation. May help to change tac? Just a suggestion.

I am opposed to restraint in any way. I do not need to use it ever. Take the Sh out of SHOUT and turn it into Shhhhhhh? That child is upset for a reason...............maybe you could find out what? Or maybe refer the child on to someone that can?

I am off to bed now so will catch up with the thread in the morning. A very interesting debate that actually confirms what I already feared. Goodnight folks sleep well wherever you are or have a good day!

Some cases are kids melting down. This is simply a case of a child who is partially the victim of parents who virtually neglect him, hence the constant need for attention, and also one who lives with a few disorders including autism and ADHD. How do I know? Because we work with psychologists, with other teachers, with his parents, with his aunts and uncles, with speech/language therapists, etc etc. His meltdowns aren't attention-seeking and they rarely happen - when they do, he goes and locks himself in a toilet, and he is fairly easily coaxed out by a teacher or teacher aide, and then allowed to have some down time somewhere quiet, in the library or an office or something with some music or books. He's not a bad child, just one who severely lacks parental attention and so tries to get it the only way he knows how - by drawing attention to himself, and getting it from teachers, the only other adults in his life. He pushes the boundaries as all children do, but unfortunately he doesn't know when to stop, and that's when it all goes wrong. And I'm sorry, but you can't put 30 children in the line of danger when that happens - and so he gets restrained. If he's simply yelling and throwing things then generally he's walked out of the room and into the corridor so he can calm down. But if he's getting too violent then it becomes a matter of keeping the other children, and the adults, safe.

I must be tired as your posts are not making sense to me. I will make a point to re read them in the morning before I comment! Safe to say though that you appear to be on the defensive? Why? I have never disrespected teachers or would I? I am not quite sure why you should think I am questioning your authority............or maybe that is the answer to my question?! A final goodnight!

I think I'm possibly misreading yours too then... I think I'll take a leaf from your book and go to bed too!! Sleepiness leads to misinterpretation leads to arguing leads to... yeah.

In all honesty, I completely agree with you 99% of the time. There's just always a case where you have to put the safety of the other children ahead of the best efforts at dealing with the situation without physical restraint.

Anyway, bed! More tomorrow, look forward to it.

OOOOH I just had to pop back as I HIT THE OFF BUTTON!

Yup, I look forward to it too! NIGHT.........WHOOOSH GONE!X

DITTO!! ! Get rid of restraints on children!! !! !! !! !! !! just a bunch of bullying adults![/quote]

maybe some of the adults that try to restrain children need to be restrained.

But if you did use it, how can you make sure that you're not applying too much pressure?