DAME Esther Rantzen has backed a campaign by a Scots mother to change the rules about restraint of disabled children.

The former That's Life presenter and Strictly Come Dancing contestant has written in support of Beth Morrison's call for new national guidelines on the use of restraint and seclusion for disabled and special needs children in schools.

The Monifieth mother, who claims her son was injured after being restrained at Dundee's Kingspark School in 2010, lodged a petition with the Scottish Parliament as a result.

Police investigations into restraint at Kingspark are ongoing, but more than 7,000 people have now signed the petition and Mrs Morrison has been contacted by parents from around the country who claim their children have been hurt or upset by cases of alleged mishandling in schools.

As Mrs Morrison took her campaign to Holyrood this week, Dame Esther said: "Children with special needs are particularly vulnerable to abuse. It is therefore vital that there are strong, effective and appropriate national guidelines to protect disabled children, and when cases of abuse occur, that these cases are properly investigated.

"I am hugely impressed by the determination shown by Beth Morrison and other families to bring this vital area for reform to the public's attention, and for the sake of the children, I hope she succeeds.

"I call upon the MSP's to reform the law, and protect vulnerable children whose voices are not being heard."

The petition calls on the Scottish Government to introduce national guidelines on the use of restraint and seclusion for children with disabilities in schools. Mrs Morrison said serious problems could occur in councils where such guidance is not in place.

These can include children being restrained flat on their faces, inappropriate use of wheelchairs to restrain them and children kept in seclusion without a time limit.

On some occasions this is alleged to have resulted in injury and considerable distress for the children and young people involved in the incidents.

Mrs Morrison said: "There is often a misunderstanding from a lot of teachers that when children have challenging behaviour, that is a synonym for mischievous or bad behaviour which is really quite wrong."

The petition's suggested guidance includes the principles that restraint should not be cruel, humiliating, painful or unnecessary, and only carried out by trained staff, and only ever as a last resort. Instead, it is currently often a first response, Mrs Morrison said. "There is currently too much emphasis on punishment rather than supporting positive behaviour, which is best practice and what we are recommending," Mrs Morrison added. "Far too much practice is still regrettably rooted in the 20th century. This is effectively corporal punishment by the back door."

The petition is being supported by a range of organisations including the Learning Disability Alliance Scotland (LDAS), the Challenging Behaviour Foundation. and the British Institute of Learning Disabilities.

Ian Hood, LDAS coordinator, said: "Guidance [on restraint] exists for children in residential care - but this is not designed for schools."

Holyrood's petitions committee has undertaken to investigate the issues raised by the petition and is writing to seek views of relevant parties, including Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People Tam Baillie.