MSPs considering legislation on minimising restraint and seclusion in Scotland’s schools have urged teachers to share their views.

Tabled by Labour MSP Daniel Johnson, the Restraint and Seclusion (Scotland) Bill, if passed, would not only oblige schools to inform parents when the practices are used on their child, but also issue an annual report on their use.

Launching a call for evidence — running until July 11 — education, children and young people committee convener Douglas Ross said: “The use of restraint and seclusion has been controversial for many years.

“This Bill aims to minimise the use of restraint and seclusion and we want to understand the implications of adopting this approach.

“The committee is keen to hear from people who have views on the use of restraint and seclusion in schools.

“We’re also interested in hearing from teachers, school leaders and specialists to give us a broad perspective of views on the proposals in this Bill.”

One organisation keen to participate, amid concerns of growing violence in the classroom, is the teaching union NASUWT.

NASUWT Scotland national official Mike Corbett told the Star: “We have serious concerns about the lack of practical guidance and support for teachers on the use of restraint and seclusion.

“We warned at the time of its publication last year that current guidance for schools was not fit for purpose and failed to uphold the Scottish government’s duty to ensure teachers’ right to work in safety.

“We will be responding to this call for evidence to make clear that at a time of rising levels of serious violence in schools, teachers need leadership from the Scottish government on this critical issue of the basic safety of our school workforce and the pupils they teach.”