Echo readers back a call for an end to use of isolation booths in schools

With concern growing that an increasing use of the booths for disruptive students could have serious effects on young people's mental health, we asked if their use should be stopped.

More than 1,000 people voted, with 51% saying yes and 49% no.

Comments on on our Facebook page reflected the close division of opinion.

Louise Gibson said it was ‘very difficult, in fact impossible for staff to balance those who want to learn, those who don’t and those who can’t. Somebody needs to research slippage time in classes caused by bad behaviour and disruption,’ while Kayleigh Devine added: “ It depends how they used. There’s disruption then there’s kids getting isolation for wearing the wrong trainers.’

Vicky Adams said: “I'm a teacher, married to a teacher and now foster parents. Isolation booths are horrible things. For children who struggle to cope with school, punishment is not the answer it does not work - you are punishing them for something they have had no choice in.”But Jen McPurvis said: “Children who don’t cause disruption have a right to an education and unfortunately it could be be what is best for majority of pupils

“If children have genuine issues then they are not always the best solution but for those children being purposefully disruptive, there needs to be consequences and a quiet, personal space is not the worst that I could think of.”