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<p>All schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy which outlines measures
to encourage good behaviour and prevent all forms of bullying amongst pupils. The
school’s behaviour policy should set out the behaviour expected of pupils, the sanctions
that will be imposed for misbehaviour, and rewards for good behaviour. This should
be communicated to all pupils, school staff, and parents.</p><p>To help schools develop
effective strategies, the Department has produced advice for schools which covers
what should be included in the behaviour policy. This advice can be viewed here:</p><p><a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/behaviour-and-discipline-in-schools"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/behaviour-and-discipline-in-schools</a>.</p><p>Existing
guidance makes clear that schools can adopt a policy which allows disruptive pupils
to be placed in isolation away from other pupils for a limited period. If a school
uses isolation rooms as a disciplinary penalty, this should be made clear in their
behaviour policy. As with other disciplinary penalties, schools must act lawfully,
reasonably and proportionately in all cases. The school must also ensure the health
and safety of pupils.</p><p>It is for individual schools to decide how long a particular
pupil should be kept in isolation and for the staff member in charge to determine
what pupils may and may not do during the time they are there. Schools should ensure
that pupils are kept in isolation no longer than is necessary and their time spent
there is used as constructively as possible. Schools must allow pupils time to eat
or use the toilet.</p><p>The Department has made no recent assessment of trends in
the level of the use of isolation booths in schools, and has no plans to collect national
data on their use.</p>
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