Further information

Government guidance

The Department for Children. Schools and Families (DCSF) has issued a number of circulars and guidance notes relating to assaults and the surrounding issues, as follows. These are available from: www.dcfs.gov.uk/publications. 

  • DfEE /Home Office guidance (1997): School security: Dealing with troublemakers 
  • DfEE circular 10/98: Section 550A of the Education Act 1996: The use of force to control or restrain pupils 
  • DfES circular 10/99: The Secretary of State's guidance on pupil attendance, behaviour, exclusion and re-integration (revised in 2004) 
  • DfEE circular 11/99: Social inclusion: Pupil support DfES circular 0803/2001: Health and safety: Responsibilities and powers 
  • DfES guidance DfES/0504/2002: A legal toolkit for schools: Tackling abuse, threats and violence towards members of the school community 
  • DfES guidance LEA/0242/2002: Guidance on the use of restrictive physical interventions for staff working with children and adults who display extreme behaviour in association with learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorders 
  • DfES guidance LEA/0264/2003: Guidance on the use of restrictive physical interventions for pupils with severe behavioural difficulties 
  • DfES guidance DfES/0432/2003: Ensuring regular school attendance 
  • DfES circular 0354/2004: Improving behaviour and attendance: Guidance on exclusion from school and pupil referral units
  • DfES 2005: Higher standards, better schools for all: More choice for parents and pupils 
  • DfES 2005: Report of the Practitioners' Group on school behaviour and discipline (the Steer report) 
  • The National Assembly in Wales has issued circular 37/98: The use of reasonable force to control or restrain pupils available from the Assembly on tel: 029 2089 8688     

There are also a number of government initiatives and schemes that aim to assist with managing behaviour and attendance:

  • Behaviour and Attendance Programme  - see the DCFS website
  • Safer School Partnerships - see the Safer School Partnerships website 
  • School Police Protocols - see the Teachernet website.     

In January 2006, the Prime Minister launched the government's Respect Action Plan, a cross-departmental initiative on anti-social behaviour. For further information, see the Respect website.

Useful contacts

Help and support

For further advice on this issue, ATL members can speak to their school rep, their branch secretary or their regional official. They can also call the London (020 7930 6441), Cardiff (029 2046 5000), Belfast (028 9078 2020) or Edinburgh (0131 272 2748) offices or email info@atl.org.uk

For out of hours enquiries, call the out of office hours helpline on 020 7782 1612 (Monday-Friday, 5-8pm during term time).

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