The NASUWT has launched a series of posters for use in schools and designed to make clear that abuse will not be tolerated.
The posters are similar to the campaigns that have been run in hospitals and on the railways for some time.
NASUWT research earlier this year found that 57 per cent of teachers have been subjected to verbal abuse by a pupil in the last 12 months and 27 per cent said they had been verbally abused by a parent or carer.
The research involved 4,200 of its members and also found that 18 per cent had received threats of physical assault by a pupil in the preceding 12 months while 14 per cent had actually been physically assaulted.
Abuse campaign: Two of the NASUWT's posters that have been made available for schools to help prevent the verbal or physical abuse of teachers
Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said: “Go into any NHS hospital, GP surgery, railway station and many other workplaces and you will find posters being displayed which state clearly the expectations of how staff should be treated and that abuse of staff will not be tolerated.
“The NASUWT believes that those who employ teachers and headteachers should also be prepared to make such a clear commitment to the safety and dignity of their staff. All teachers and headteachers are entitled to a safe working environment free from violence and abuse. Employers have a legal duty of care to provide this.
“Verbal and physical abuse is not part of the job. It is unacceptable and must be challenged. Our aim is to have these posters displayed prominently in every school across the country where they will be seen by pupils, parents and visitors to the site. Good employers will have no problem with displaying the posters.”
- Three posters focusing on respect and verbal and physical abuse are available to download from the NASUWT via http://bit.ly/2MP45ZH