Families bring claims against academy trust and council over use of isolation rooms for children and young people with SEND

Advised by law firm Leigh Day, the claims include allegations of breach of duty of care, false imprisonment and breaches of human rights arising from the use of the rooms between 2014-2017. 

On 8 July 2026, a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review was published by Waltham Forest Safeguarding Partners about the use of restrictive practices at Whitefield School, a specialist school for pupils with SEND, run by Flourish Learning Trust at the time of the events.

The review examined the seclusion of children and young people in locked and padded isolation rooms, and found that children’s dignity, safety and wellbeing were compromised and that the use of seclusion was “not therapeutic or supportive, but punitive”.

An Ofsted inspection in January 2017 identified that secure rooms were in use at the school.

According to Leigh Day, CCTV footage was discovered in May 2021 by new leadership at the school.

A three-year criminal investigation by the Metropolitan Police, Operation Hopgrove, followed, but families were told that no criminal charges were being brought. 

The law firm is now representing families in civil claims against Flourish Learning Trust and the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

According to Leigh Day, the learning trust and the London borough have been “formally notified” of potential legal claims being brought against them. 

Alison Millar, partner at Leigh Day, said: “The children and families we represent have endured the consequences of a regime of isolation at Whitefield School that should never have been allowed to happen.

“[…] The review confirms that there was no justification for the restrictive practices in operation at Whitefield School between 2014 and 2017. It also highlights that many of the children could not understand why they were being put in these rooms or what they could do to get out of them; for children with autism, learning disabilities and communication difficulties, the experience would often have been incomprehensible, as well as frightening. The use of the so-called calming rooms against children with multiple vulnerabilities was, in our clients’ view, nothing short of torture. 

“Leigh Day is now representing 10 clients in civil claims against Flourish Learning Trust and the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The claims include allegations that the use of the rooms was inconsistent with the school’s duty of care, amounted to false imprisonment and breached our clients’ human rights. The use of forcible isolation in a locked room against a child is in our clients' view, barbaric, and we believe wholly inconsistent with the school’s duty of care towards our clients and represented a serious breach of their human rights.”

A spokesperson for Flourish Learning Trust said: "We recognise the seriousness of the events at the school which took place between 2014 and 2017, and our thoughts remain with the children and families affected by what happened.

“The review reports on important learning to assist with the changes which have taken place to offer better protection for children. Flourish Learning Trust no longer operates any schools, and none of the prior leadership are still in post. Interim arrangements are in place to ensure oversight until the Trust is officially closed.

"Whitefield School itself is now being run by a different trust which supports the outcomes from the review and has been working hard to transform the school and give every pupil the care, dignity and support they rightfully deserve."

A council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the civil legal action led by Leigh Day. We will not be commenting further while legal action is ongoing.”

Lottie Winson