A report by the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, outlining the investigation's findings, is calling for “a wholescale culture shift in how behaviour is viewed and responded to in schools”.
When asked about the impact of some behaviour management techniques on their mental health, young people told the inquiry they had been left feeling worthless and invisible.
Some reported increased feelings of anxiety, particularly in relation to attending school.
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Where children and young people had existing mental health problems or special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), punitive techniques exacerbated these difficulties, according to researchers.
A young person who took part in the research said: “It affects my mental health by putting the idea in my head that no-one sees my worth and I deserve to be in pain.”
The report also found that children and young people with SEND, those from racialised communities including black and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and young people from low-income backgrounds were disproportionately impacted by school behaviour policies.
“Some schools use blanket approaches to behaviour which fail to take into account, and accommodate, individual needs and disabilities. Such approaches risk being discriminatory and in contradiction to school duties under the Equality Act 2010,” the report states.
It adds that: “Problematic behaviour should not be viewed as something to be managed, but an opportunity to identify needs early and intervene.
“This should be accompanied by developing supportive and inclusive school environments through the implementation of whole-school and college approaches to mental health and wellbeing.”
It also calls for greater government investment in children’s mental health services.
Responding to the report, Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the National Education Union, said it “highlights the result of government policies that have failed young people by insisting on a content-laden, over- prescriptive curriculum, an exam-driven culture and an underfunded SEND support system”.
“Many young people are being driven to a mental health crisis point and schools are expected to deal with the educational and psychological consequences with little or no access to specialist SEND and mental health professionals to enable early and continued support for children and young people,” she added.
Latest data published by the Department for Education shows that in the spring term of 2021/21 2,175 were permanently excluded from schools while 200,826 were suspended.
Other forms of punitive behaviour management listed in the report includes the use of removal rooms.
