Nursery using high chair as a physical restraint

[Lemongrasssugar]

Is it legal?
A nursery I work in has started to put children in high chairs if they start to be disruptive or try to constantly run out of the room. The children in question are 2 and 3.

I find it very uncomfortable and feel that there must be another method.

I wouldn't be happy at all, in fact i'd be fuming. Especially as my 2 and a half year old hasn't been in a high chair for a long time!

I wouldn't use it myself and therefore would be even more unhappy if it was used in a childcare setting. I'd probably be more relaxed if it was done by a well meaning relative, but would ask them not to do it again then too.

This is absolutely shocking. It is in no way appropriate or legal to restrain a child in this way for this purpose. If Ofsted knew this was occurring, they would be appalled, as would the parents of the children in question. Furthermore, at that age, the children cannot express to their parents what is happening to them and so you need to be their voice and advocate.

You're right there are much better ways to manage behaviour than strapping children into high chairs. Realistically they must by much to big for them. I can think of lots. I would be removing them from the situation if it was my call not restraining.

The nursery ds attends have recently had OFSTED visit after a whistle blowing report from a visitor, someone who came in to do matinance. The matinance man must have seen poor ds have a moment and reported something he felt looked inappropriate.

Ds sometimes needs to be "restrained", his 3 1/2. They have policies written for this and keep a log of when they have to do so. (Attenpting to identify triggers at nursery.) He has what we think are sensory meltdowns, he will try to escape and will throw things indargering himself and others. When his like this they strap him into his pushchair and cover it with a blanket; it must look terrible to anyone not in the know. But it's the best way to help him calm down without escliating the situation. His not ignored but his left to it until he feels ready to get out so as not to prolong his upset. Any other course of action makes things even worse for him. They consulted me so we could work out what helps him, pushchair or sling, when they were having difficulty helping him regulate when his behaviour turns so extreme.

It certainly isn't something that should be happening with out good reason. I would be furious if it happened to ds without the policies that have been put in place. They have involvement from their advisor to write the policies and we are seeking support from occupational therapy. It is part of staff induction so everyone knows what's going on.

If you're not comfortable with it, that's a good reason to do something about it. The manager of ds' nursery got quite a shock but had everything in place to prove it was part of meeting individual needs and the matter seem to be resolved very quickly.

I'm not sure who oversees nurseries but if we look at nursing homes for example, training dictates that any kind of physical restraint, even just bed rails, is a breach. The care quality commission would have a field day. So, what I'm saying is, if a carer put an elderly patient in a chair they could not get out of, that carer would be in deep trouble. It is a deprivation of liberty. I would assume the same for a child being restrained in a high chair but I do not know the rules regarding children.

When I worked with kids, myself and my colleagues all agreed that a sign of a good nursery was - would I want my child to be treated this way? If not, then no it is not okay.

I would go crazy if my child was put into a high chair to restrain him. Report them. Those kids need you to be their voice @Lemongrasssugar

You need to contact LADO which stands for Local Authority Designated Officer within your Local Authority and refer the matter to them.

Statutory guidance and procedures state that every Council has a duty to manage allegations and concerns about any person who works with children and young people in their area. This includes Council staff, staff or partner agencies and volunteers. All Local Authorities comply with this duty by employing a LADO with a Team called a Position of Trust Team.

The LADO is responsible for managing all child protection allegations made against staff and volunteers who work with children and young people in their area.

How does the LADO manage allegations?

There are protocols which set out the actions to take when it is suspected that a professional has harmed a child or young person. Usually the LADO will forward a form to be completed by email and emailed back (this can be done in complete confidence) you don't have to give your name if you don't want to. They will then investigate the matter in great detail and the nursery supervisor will be asked to attend a meeting with other applicable agencies to discuss any findings and come up with a plan called an Acton Plan which outlines immediate actions that must be taken to safeguard children within the nursery setting my altering the way they manage the children on a daily basis. It's important to realise that this is not aimed to 'punish' people but it is aimed to assist those in a position of trust to work in a better way and to understand that the way they are working might not be in the best interests of the child.

I don’t like that at all, but also very sad that we have a generation of small kids who aren’t used to boundaries or doing as they are told. And yes, two and three year olds can and do do what they are told most of the time, if they are properly parented. The odd mishap is therefore manageable. A room full Of uncontrollable barnabuses and arabellas must be horrific.

Unless it's the only option for the child's own safety, which is highly unlikely, I would feel uncomfortable with this also, and would question the nurseries approach to things. The physical restraint, as well as lifting/carrying a child who is more likely to act out isn't best practice. There seems to be other safeguarding issues too, why are children able to run out of the room in the first place? I'm also surprised that 2 & 3 year olds are still in high chairs at nursery, and not supported to be more independent at a table.

You need to contact LADO which stands for Local Authority Designated Officer within your Local Authority and refer the matter to them

This sounds fantastic and precisely who the OP needs to go to.

I’m sorry, am I misunderstanding something? You’re talking about putting a child into a high chair - a chair specifically designed for safely seating children - as if they’re literally being put in straight jackets and thrown in cells. I am really struggling to get that worked up about this. And I’m normally fiercely protective of my children but I just really think that if I walked into nursery and my son was in a highchair I’d be like 🤷‍♀️

Assuming as a one off of course

That is poor

How long are they left strapped in op? I suppose if they’ve currently got their hands full and just strapped them in for a few minutes to keep them out of harms way, that would be ok imo. But if they’re literally strapped in and left because they just cba to deal with them, that’s obviously wrong

Bizarre - nursery rooms, you would expect, should be toddler escape proof? So no need to restrain them in high chairs, unless they are eating.

I have done it, on occasion when we have been somewhere like a restaurant or cafe. Not as a punishment but somewhere to keep my child (and of course we kept engaging with them) where they cannot run off, get hurt, grind food into the floor, etc.

WheredidI
Some kids do just try to escape!
My brother used to escape the garden 40y ago. They would have been 4+.
Or in a nursery setting it's possible the kid is unhappy or wants their parent.
There are stair gates, car door locks, window locks, toilet locks, cupboard locks etc because some dc do things they should not occassionally. Others put things in their mouth. Some kids escape their car seat.
Yes many kids respond to 'no' others see it as a challenge/dont understand or care.
On a side note perhaps there are more dc who dont listen because we use all this safety equipment and because the kids who wouldnt have survived childhood because of what they get up to now live longer and have dc.
Also in a nursery setting many dc dont sleep or as much so are more likely to be impulsive

@EleanorShellstrop100
How would you feel as an adult being strapped into a chair, which you should only associate with meal times, but not be fed, while all your friends are playing but you don't have the words to express all these emotions you are feeling? Children need understanding and guidance, which they certainly won't gain from this experience. There are other ways to teach right and wrong, which aren't so detrimental to a child's well being, and a nursery should definitely know this.

If I walked into a nursery and saw ANY child not just my own forcibly restrained in a high chair at that age I would be absolutely livid.

Not on at all even just the thought of it boils my blood. Beyond cruel

Is it generally a shitty place to work in ? have you enough staff ? is it because you have a particularly difficult group at the moment and are struggling to keep them all safe, because you do not get any additional support . The best thing would be to polish that cv and look for a better job , I want to say reporting it all will make a difference , but only you know whether it will at your setting .OFSTED are more often than not useless.

I worked for a Safeguarding Dept within a local authority. Please refer to my reply at 12.54:18.

It depends really. What kind of highchair and is there a member of staff with the child. If child isn't taking part in activity etc I can see putting child in chair and engaging then to do an activity is a good way to help child focus.
If it's being used as a time out chair then I'd wonder if it's an effective form of punishment for the child's age.
As a childminder I sometimes put children in high chairs whilst we have story time or song time if I have to tidy up or to dish up lunch etc. I see that as a sensible and safe thing to do.
We need more info about context really.

Thank you for your replys. It seems to be a one off with the 2-3 year old. But the 3-4 year old seems to be put in the high chair from about 4 o'clock when he doesnt want to listen and wants to explore.
For me it seems that they are not stimulated enough and some of the staff think that children are happy to entertain themselves or draw all the time.
We do have a staff shortage at the moment in these two rooms and the remaining staff are the ones that used to get other people to do everything whilst they sit there doing paper work.
They used to send these children to my room as punishment but in a meeting I said that I did not want to be seen as the naughty room.
I also used to work in the 2-3 room so I know there are ways of dealing with children without fobbing them off on other staff.
I didnt witness the chairs being used today but if I do I will note it and take it to the owner quoting the positive handling policy that we have.

I do think though that they will tell me it's for the childs safety but the older child gets physically distressed. The high chair is from the baby room.