A TEACHING union has branded the SNP Scottish government’s long-awaited guidance on the use or restraint in schools as “unfit for purpose” and slammed it for putting teachers’ safety at risk.

The remarks from the NASUWT came as SNP Education Minister Jenny Gilruith published the guidance today amid growing concerns from pupils, parents and school staff at escalating violence in Scotland’s classrooms.

The new guidance bans the use of restraints such as holding a child on the ground or applying pressure on the torso or joints, and its use as a punishment or to gain “compliance,” saying: “Restraint should only be used to avert immediate risk of physical injury to any person where no less restrictive alternatives are viable.

“This reflects the principle of last resort.”

In her foreward to the guidance, Ms Gilruth states: “We want to address the underlying causes of any distressed behaviour that poses a risk to the safety and wellbeing of others.

“By doing so, we can help schools deliver a safe and supportive learning environment and prevent the need for restraint and seclusion.

“While the guidance rightly has a focus on prevention, it is vital that our school staff are supported to intervene confidently and appropriately when the need arises.”

NASUWT Scotland official Mike Corbett said: “This guidance fails to uphold the Scottish government’s duty to ensure teachers’ right to work in safety, focusing almost exclusively as it does on the rights of children who may be subject to a physical intervention.”

NASUWT’s general secretary Patrick Roach said: “Despite waiting nearly a year for the publication of this guidance, teachers and school leaders will despair the lack of practical guidance on offer.

“At a time of increasing levels of serious disruption and violence in schools, teachers and school leaders are being placed in an untenable position by the Scottish government.

“Ministers should be clear that this guidance is unfit for purpose in its current form and further work is needed to better support teachers and school leaders.”

EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said: “Families and the teachers and practitioners who support them must have clarity and confidence in the practice to be adopted through the application of the guidance.

“The EIS will monitor application of the new guidance, consulting with members about its implementation in practice.”

The Scottish government was asked for comment.