The report found that Harry, who is autistic and non-verbal, was "restrained unnecessarily" at the special school he attended and that "the failures in this case caused the child's parents a huge amount of distress".
The Lagan Valley MLA has said: “The impact of restraint and seclusion can be devastating for young people, some of whom may be non-verbal and unable to explain what has happened to them.
“With that in mind, this report has been a long time coming and highlights a number of significant issues and failings.
“Firstly, tribute should be paid to Deirdre, her family, and others with lived experience who continue to courageously campaign to make real change in the interest of all children.
“I acknowledge the work which has been done by the Department of Education, like the 2022 review and the subsequent draft guidance which has been published for consultation. However, we are still awaiting further updates on when the statutory guidance will be in place and what changes have been made given the substantial feedback.
“We also urgently need to see the repeal of Article 4 (1)(c) of Education (NI) Order 1998, which still allows use of force to maintain 'good order and discipline' in schools.
“Now is the time for the Education Minister to ensure those with lived experience are finally listened to on this crucial issue.”