Incident report is a written record created by school staff after a significant event involving a student, such as an injury, safety concern, restraint, or behavioural incident requiring intervention. The purpose of an incident report is to document what happened, who was involved, and what actions were taken so the school and district have an official record of the event. These reports can help schools review whether policies were followed, identify patterns, and plan appropriate supports. However, families sometimes discover that incidents affecting their child were never formally documented, even when serious events occurred. In those situations, the absence of incident reports can become important in understanding how the school responded and whether proper procedures were followed. Parents may sometimes only learn what documentation exists by requesting records under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (British Columbia).