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Original poster

Isolation booths

344 replies

Pliudev · 03/04/2019 09:54

Ok I'm ready to be shouted down by long suffering teachers but isn't the use of isolation booths an infringement on a child's human rights? I've read today of a child who attempted suicide while being kept in one of these punishments booths for prolonged periods. And of a boy who spent 35 days in one. What have things come to when schools can inflict this kind of punishment? In both of these cases the children had mental health issues. If parents isolated their children in this way wouldn't that amount to abuse? And isn't it an indication of failure on behalf of schools that there seems to be growing use of this kind of punishment? And how can schools justify fining parents for taking children on holiday if it is ok to suspend their education for long periods in isolation?

OP posts:
finishers · 03/04/2019 18:27

claire and captain so is the girl still in school with her rapist that you both spoke of?...

Even if you have left the school(s) surely you should contact the head of the schools and complain, send them the guidance - have you spoken to your MP about this or the department of education ?

What have you done?
I hope the parents are taking legal action and the victims are getting care.

CaptainBrickbeard · 03/04/2019 18:27

The Ban the Booths campaign is damaging and dangerous. I wish I could find one of these schools that is apparently excluding for pencil case misdemeanours because I’d love that to be one of my problems as opposed to violence, swearing, drugs, knives and sexual assault. I’d love for my kids to attend a school where anyone had the time to have pencil cases on their radar. Condemning isolation risks taking away yet another protection that schools have in place to safeguard staff and children and to allow learning to take place. If isolation booths go the way of permanent exclusions (I.e. become non-existent) then god help teachers and pupils. I hope I’ve secured my exit from the profession by then.

finishers · 03/04/2019 18:28

mIssmarple I agree

AuntieCJ · 03/04/2019 18:29

We could expel children for having sen or the wrong shoes or a ruler the wrong length as well.

Prize for the most stupid comment of the thread right there. As if that's the same as teachers being attacked. Grow up.

CaptainBrickbeard · 03/04/2019 18:31

Yes, finishers, I took it further and the response I got was that his human right to education had to be protected. And the rape occurred off school grounds which apparently made it not their responsibility.

BachAtTheMoon · 03/04/2019 18:32

my son is in a class with a boy on the Autism spectrum and who has ADHD, who is constantly being punished for quite petty things. He just doesn't have a filter and can't always keep quiet when he is supposed to or gets fidgety. He is actually a very charismatic and sweet boy and it is heartbreaking to see this level of punishment, mainly for behaviour he can't really help. I don't know what the answer is but I feel he needs more support not isolation This describes my son perfectly. He has been in isolation 6 times in three weeks. His tie was crooked, he spoke to his neighbour. His water bottle fell off the table when someone walked past and "caught it accidentally" and made the other children laugh (These are all verbatim reasons given by the school) How will isolation help him? It's just become easier to bin him off rather than do anything about it. I understand that budgets are cut to the bone, but there has to be a solution other than denying my child an education for a whole working day every time the school decide to apply a punishment for a petty reason.

the real problem is shit mothers If you lot did a better job at home schools wouldn't have to do this
Well you're a right goady fucker aren't you?

BoneyBackJefferson · 03/04/2019 18:37

finishers

For all of your examples, you seem to completely miss the point that its not the schools that are to blame, it is an education that is not fit for purpose.

SEND policies
Inclusion policies
Bullying policies etc. etc.

all have to fit within the DFE guidelines that are not fit for purpose, the funding for schools is not fit for purpose, the SEND regulation bodies are not fit for purpose.

But its the schools that get it in the neck because they have to deal with this and still try and educate children at the same time.

BoneyBackJefferson · 03/04/2019 18:37

finishers

For all of your examples, you seem to completely miss the point that its not the schools that are to blame, it is an education that is not fit for purpose.

SEND policies
Inclusion policies
Bullying policies etc. etc.

all have to fit within the DFE guidelines that are not fit for purpose, the funding for schools is not fit for purpose, the SEND regulation bodies are not fit for purpose.

But its the schools that get it in the neck because they have to deal with this and still try and educate children at the same time.

finishers · 03/04/2019 18:37

Ban the booths campaign:

https://banthebooths.co.uk

finishers · 03/04/2019 18:38

I have not been blaming schools at all or teachers on this thread.

nutsfornutella · 03/04/2019 18:39

schools are way to involved in a familys private life these days and parents are letting it happen*

Modern society accepts that some families won't educate their children on life and blames schools for all sorts like extremism, teen pregnancy, knife crime, obesity etc Schools are forced to teach all of the problems imposed on them and this is why they are controlling.

clairemcnam · 03/04/2019 18:39

Ban the booths campaign will not work unless there is an alternative.
Banning this for incredibly minor things is reasonable though.

CaptainBrickbeard · 03/04/2019 18:40

finishers what was your comment on teachers with empathy, love and care meant to imply exactly then...?

Amongstthetallgrass · 03/04/2019 18:46

It really is worth the struggle sending my dc to private school to not have to deal with the shit state schools especially academies get away with.

Original poster
Pliudev · 03/04/2019 18:50

Echt
I don't think I posted a rant. Also the article I was referring to was quickly posted by others so that you could read it before accusing me of inventing things. It amazes me how vitriolic some people on here are. As a matter of interest how would you feel if your child was punished in this way? I posted (for the first time ever) because I read something that disturbed me and I wanted to hear the opinion of reasonable others.

OP posts:
Tunnockswafer · 03/04/2019 18:53

Is an isolation room a desk with walls? Does it also have a door behind the pupil? It sounds like a fairly peaceful spot to get on with your work - not exactly a sensory deprivation chamber.

Tunnockswafer · 03/04/2019 18:54

Sorry, isolation “booth” not room

DobbysLeftSock · 03/04/2019 18:55

As a matter of interest how would you feel if your child was punished in this way?

  1. What on earth did you do / what on earth were you thinking?
  2. I hope you understand how serious this is .
  3. Write a letter of apology to the staff member concerned
  4. No devices for 2 weeks
  5. If this happens again the consequences will be more serious.
LittleChristmasMouse · 03/04/2019 18:56

DobbysLeftSock

Indeed.

IntentsandPorpoises · 03/04/2019 18:56

I was a teacher for over a decade, secondary. I was assaulted a few times by students and also timetabled to man the isolation room.

I also have a dd with ASD who has violent meltdowns (albeit mostly at home at the moment). We'd love some specialist provision, 1:1 TA, any of the things suggested by the clinical consultant psychologist that diagnosed her. But we don't have any of it because there is no money.

The girl that attempted suicide had autism. She was most likely there because the school had already failed to meet her needs.

It is barbaric the way we are treating children with SEN and MH issues in this country.

BachAtTheMoon · 03/04/2019 18:59

DobbysLeftSock
And if it's for a reason related to a disability? That the child can't help? What then? Punish the child more for being unable to make eye contact? Because that's one of the many many reasons my child has been sent to isolation.

CaptainBrickbeard · 03/04/2019 18:59

My children, like 95% of the children I have taught in the past eleven years, are unlikely to end up in isolation booths. It takes a lot of steps for a student to end up in one in my experience.

IntentsandPorpoises · 03/04/2019 18:59

*1. What on earth did you do / what on earth were you thinking?

  1. I hope you understand how serious this is .
  2. Write a letter of apology to the staff member concerned
  3. No devices for 2 weeks
  4. If this happens again the consequences will be more serious.*

I'll answer for my dd.

  1. I don't remember, I felt stressed and anxious and it overwhelmed me
  2. Yes, usually she is very upset and has often talked of dying (she's 6)
  3. She would but this would serve to further embarrass her for behaviour she can't control
  4. Fine, but consequences don't work because she isn't choosing this behaviour.
theSnuffster · 03/04/2019 19:02

I'm sure that the use of isolation had it's benefits, when used correctly.

Unfortunately I think it's sometimes/ often used for children who actually should be offered support. Children with additional needs for example, or mental health issues, or who have something going on at home. Sadly it all tends to come down to funding. Only those with the most severe needs are able to get a place in a specialist school. Only those in mainstream school with the more severe needs can access additional support such as counselling sessions or behavioural support sessions.

Which means teachers have to work to support these children within a mainstream class. If that doesn't work for whatever reason they're moved out of the class.

CaptainBrickbeard · 03/04/2019 19:03

I’ve taught in schools with specialist autism provision and I have never known autistic children be sent to isolation btw. I’ve also never known them be sent there for uniform/equipment infringements or being unable to make eye contact. In any school I have known, students have been sent to isolation for a series of bad behaviour choices.

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