Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what advice her Department gives to maintained schools on what action to take when a student with special educational needs is verbally abused by a staff member.

All maintained schools have a responsibility for the wellbeing of all their pupils. The Department for Education’s Teachers’ Standards define the minimum level of practice expected of all teachers in schools in England. The Standards make it clear to schools that teachers are expected to treat pupils with dignity and build relationships that are rooted in mutual respect.

Any pupil who believes they have been subjected to verbal abuse by a staff member should raise the matter with the school, or ask their parents to do so on their behalf.