'Extraordinary achievement': Calum's Law will see reduction in pupils restrained at school
Calum’s Law has been hailed an ‘extraordinary achievement’ as it was voted onto the statue books by MSPs
Legislation that will help protect children from being restrained at school has been hailed as an “extraordinary achievement”.
“Calum’s Law” was unanimously voted onto the statue books by MSPs last night (Tuesday).
It is named after Calum Morrison, who was restrained at a special educational needs school when he was 11 years old, leaving him unconscious and traumatised.
The legislation will ensure that the use of restraint in schools will be recorded, reported and monitored.
The legislation is the result of 16 years of work by Calum’s mother, Beth, and fellow mother Kate Sanger for a legally mandated limit on restraint and seclusion.
Working with them, the private members bill was introduced by Labour MSP Daniel Johnson, who said he had been moved by the stories of disabled young people and their families.
He said: “Initially from government there was a scepticism and a caution, but I sought to reach out right the way across the chamber, in not necessarily a noisy or conspicuous way, but just to bring people along with us.
“Above all else, Beth was such a constant presence and a real force while being genuinely warm.
“When I read the responses to the consultation, there was such real anguish and stress that so many families go through when they are just trying to figure out why their children have come home with bruises.
“Hopefully this is something I can be proud of because of the scale and significance of the impact.”
The charity Enable has delivered several national campaigns focused on rights and inclusion.
The advocacy of Mrs Morrison and her fellow advocates inspired Enable's 'In Safe Hands?' campaign.
A spokesman for the charity said the passing of the Bill was an “extraordinary achievement” for a campaigner-inspired Member’s Bill.
He added: “It is a triumph not only for parents who wouldn’t give up doing everything they could to make schools safer for disabled children, but also of the power of evidence-led campaigning to drive real change.
“Beth and the team have campaigned tirelessly to bring Scotland's law in line with the rights of disabled children and young people enshrined in the United Nations conventions and Enable continues to support this work.”
Children and Young People's Commissioner Nicola Killean paid tribute to campaigners, but warned more must now be done to protect children's rights.
The current legislation will only apply to schools but Ms Killean believes children in other settings, such as children’s homes, need safeguards.
She said: “My office has called for statutory guidance since our investigation into the use of restraint and seclusion in Scotland’s schools in 2018.
“Having worked on the issue for the last decade, my office remains clear that there is a need for a consistent legal framework covering restraint and seclusion in all settings, not just education.
“This includes care, secure care, and health services.
“Once again, I urge the Scottish Government to give children the protection they are entitled to.
“It should legislate for equivalent protection in all settings where children are in care of the state.”
Mrs Sanger and Mrs Morrison were driven to campaign for change having seen the damage restraint caused to their now-adult disabled children.
Mrs Morrison is mother to Calum, 27, while Mrs Sanger has a daughter, Laura, 33.
READ MORE: School anti-restraint legislation 'must prompt Scottish Government to act' to protect all children
Calum was restrained at school in 2010, leaving him “traumatised” and with more than 60 bruises on his body.
Laura still deals with trauma from being restrained as a schoolgirl.
Most recent figures show that in the school term, from August to the Christmas break last year, local authorities reported 163 cases of children and young people being restrained or isolated.
For the whole of the previous year, that number was 243.
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