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How and when to stop a meeting due to violent or threatening behaviour

You should never be expected to tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour from parents or carers. Find out when you can stop a meeting or interaction that has become unsafe, what your legal standing is, and how to end the meeting professionally.

Last reviewed on 30 September 2025
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 52301
Contents
  1. Your school has a duty of care towards its employees and governors
  2. You have a legal right to stop a meeting and remove individuals
  3. Identify behaviour that justifies stopping a meeting
  4. End the meeting safely and professionally
  5. What to do after you stop a meeting

Your school has a duty of care towards its employees and governors

This means that staff members, including the headteacher and governors, should not be placed in dangerous or upsetting situations. Staff shouldn't be expected to attend meetings where parents or carers are behaving aggressively, or to respond to abusive communications.

This duty of care comes from section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which states that employers need to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) specifies that this includes protecting employees from violence, including verbal