Chalfont Valley E-ACT
Primary Academy
Physical Restraint of Pupils Policy
POLICY FOR THE PHYSICAL RESTRAINT OF PUPILS
Restraint means to hold back physically or to bring a pupil under control
Objectives
This aim of this policy is to ensure that the health and safety of pupils and staff at
Chalfont Valley E-ACT Primary Academy is maintained at all times. The only time staff
should use physical force to control or restrain pupils should be when there is
likelihood that if force or restraint not be used it would result in a threat to health and
safety of pupils and or staff, would cause a serious breach of school discipline or
serious damage to property. Restraint must be proportional to the situation and used
only as a protective measure, not a disciplinary penalty.
Minimising the use of Physical Restraint force
Physical intervention must be the last resort and only undertaken when all other
means of gaining order have failed and/or immediate danger is observed.
 Teachers have a responsibility to avoid the use of physical force unless
absolutely necessary.
 Teachers should follow the school’s assertive discipline policy when dealing
with incidents.
 All communication with pupils in volatile circumstances should be calm, nonthreatening both verbally and through body language, and should offer pupils a
way out of the situation. Many challenging behaviours are foreseeable and
should have swift intervention to prevent escalation.
 Wherever practicable a warning should be issued to the pupils that force may
have to be used before using it.
 Full consideration to the pupil’s personal circumstances including SEN and
disability should be given.
Chalfont Valley E-ACT Primary Academy : Physical Restraint of Pupils
August 2012
Staff authorised to use Physical Restraint
As defined by the Education and Inspections Act 2006 section 95 all teachers
employed at Chalfont Valley E-ACT Primary Academy have the power to use force to
control or restrain pupils. In addition any other person to whom the Principal has
authorised to have control or charge of pupils also has the power. This includes
support staff whose job normally includes supervising pupils. The Principal may also
delegate powers to staff who have been given temporary authorisation to have control
or charge of pupils and in this case other staff will be informed.
Deciding whether to use Physical Restraint
Section 93 of the Education and Inspections Act enables school staff to use such force
that is reasonable in the circumstances to prevent a pupil from doing, or continuing to
do, any of the following:
 Committing any offence
 Causing personal injury to, or damage to the property of, any person (including
the pupil themselves)
 Prejudicing the maintenance of good order and discipline at the school or
among any pupils receiving education at the school, whether during a teaching
session or otherwise.
The person exercising the power to use force must take proper account of any
particular Special Educational Need and/or disability and the age and sex of the
pupil concerned.
When dealing with pupils with Special Educational Needs staff should be aware of:
 Situations that may provoke difficult behaviour, preventative strategies and
what de-escalation techniques are most appropriate
 What is most likely to trigger a violent reaction, including relevant information
relating to any previous incidents
 If physical intervention is likely to be needed, any specific strategies and
techniques that have been agreed.
If staff are unsure of how to deal appropriately with the situation they face, they should
send for help before dealing with the situation.
There is no legal definition of reasonable force or physical restraint. To be judged
lawful, the force would have needed to be in proportion to the consequence it intends
to prevent. The degree of force should be the minimum required to achieve the desired
result.
In all cases staff should make a judgement to use physical restraint when:
 The potential consequence of not intervening were sufficiently serious to justify
considering using force
 The chances of achieving the desired result by other means were minimal and
had been tried
Chalfont Valley E-ACT Primary Academy : Physical Restraint of Pupils
August 2012
 The risk associated with not using force outweighed those using force.
In extreme cases of high risk such as a pupil having or brandishing a weapon staff
should call the police.
The use of Physical Restraint force
 All other strategies should have been tried first.
 A clear verbal warning should be given to the pupil that force may have to be
used.
 Only the minimum force necessary to bring about the desired result is
acceptable. Staff should not give the impression of acting out of anger or
frustration and inform the pupil that physical contact will stop as soon as it
ceases to be necessary.
 Every effort should be made to avoid causing injury to the pupil.
 Any contact must avoid any touching or restraint that could be interpreted as
sexually inappropriate behaviour.
 Wherever possible other staff should be present.
Recording and reporting incidents
 Once the incident has been dealt with staff must immediately complete an
incident record sheet which should be handed to Mrs Sian Rowley (Deputy
Head) or in her absence, Mr Howard Darvill (EYF and Key Stage 1 Director) or
Mrs Sharon Jarrett (Principal)
 The parents of the pupil will then be informed of the incident.
 Any injuries resulting from the use of force must be recorded with Mrs Julie
Hayward who has responsibility for Health & Safety / First Aid at Chalfont
Valley E-ACT Primary Academy. Any member of staff assaulted should
discuss the incident with the Principal, which may result in a report being
submitted to the police.
 All serious cases will be reported to the governing body in the termly Principal’s
report to Governors
Post incident support
 Any physical injuries resulting from the use of force should be dealt with
immediately by the schools trained first aid personnel. Where there is serious
injury outside medical support must be obtained.
 Pupils will need to receive emotional support from the school’s Pupil Support
Counsellor. Staff may also need support from appropriate colleagues or
associated agencies.
Chalfont Valley E-ACT Primary Academy : Physical Restraint of Pupils
August 2012
 Parents may will need to be involved in the setting of subsequent sanctions,
actions and support (particularly for SEN or physically impaired pupils)
Complaints and allegations
 By complying with this policy and involving the parents in the process there
should be minimal need for any complaint or allegation against a member of
staff.
 Parents do have the right to complain about the actions taken by staff which will
be dealt with following the guidance given by the DFE. In such circumstance
the Principal would respond to the complaint in the light of school procedure.
Where parents choose to appeal against the Principal’s decision a panel of
governors will be convened.
Chalfont Valley E-ACT Primary Academy : Physical Restraint of Pupils
August 2012
USE OF PHYSICAL RESTRAINT TO CONTROL OR RESTRAIN PUPILS:
INCIDENT RECORD
Details of pupil or pupils on whom force was used by a member of staff
Name:
Date:
Form:
Time:
Name of staff involved :
Location of incident:
Name of Witness:
Details of other pupils involved (directly or as witnesses):
SEN or Disability info:
Description of incident including strategies used to de-escalate the situation
and warnings used:
Chalfont Valley E-ACT Primary Academy : Physical Restraint of Pupils
August 2012
Reason for use of force and description of force used :
Any injury sustained by any party and first aid or medical attention required:
Follow upPost incident support:
Disciplinary action taken against pupil:
Date parents informed:
Parental comments:
Has any complaint been lodged – YES / NO
Details:
Reported byName:
Role:
Signature :
Date:
Report countersigned byName:
Role:
Signature :
Date:
Chalfont Valley E-ACT Primary Academy : Physical Restraint of Pupils
August 2012