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Saint Michael’s School
ADDRESS
Harts Lane
Burghclere
Newbury
Berkshire RG20 9JW
United Kingdom
TELEPHONE
School: +44 (0)1635 278 137
+44 (0)1635 278 138
Priests: +44 (0)1635 278 173
Oblates: +44 (0)1635 253 209
EMAIL ADDRESS
School: [email protected]
FAX
School: +44 (0)1635 278 601
Oblates: +44 (0)1635 255 145
Saint Michael’s School – Physical Intervention Policy
Introduction
The School’s Physical Intervention Policy has been implemented in the event that it is ever necessary to
make use of reasonable force in order to restrain a child in our care. Physical intervention refers to the
actions by which one person restricts the movements of another. It implies the restriction of a child’s
movement which is maintained against resistance. The policy applies when a teacher, or other authorised
person, is on the School premises, and when he or she has lawful control or charge of the pupil concerned
elsewhere, e.g., on a field trip or another authorised out-of-school activity.
Physical contact with pupils may occur under other circumstances such as providing physical prompts,
giving support in Physical Education, supplying reassurance or if a member of staff has to give first aid.
This is not a “physical intervention”. Staff members are not prohibited from providing such contact when
it is professionally appropriate to do so.
The purpose of the policy is to keep people safe. Physical intervention should be avoided wherever
possible. It should never be used as part of, or a substitute for, behaviour management or as a
punishment. Corporal punishment is never allowed and staff members who take it upon themselves to
administer such punishment are liable to termination of employment and prosecution.
Use of physical intervention
A member of the staff may use, in relation to any pupil at the School, such force as is reasonable
according to the circumstances (i.e., “reasonable force”) in the following incidents:
 In an emergency, such as in the case of: fire, severe weather conditions, the necessity of preventing a
severe accident (such as a pupil in the path of an oncoming vehicle, pupils inside a building in
imminent danger of collapse, a pupil who is drowning, and so forth).
 To prevent contact of a pupil with a stranger or intruder.
 For the purpose of preventing a pupil from committing a criminal offence, (including behaving in a
way that would be an offence if the pupil were not under the age of criminal responsibility).
 Confiscation of weapons, narcotics, etc.
 Situations in which pupils are at risk of causing personal injury to, or damage to the property of, any
person (including the pupil himself or herself), such as when:
o A young pupil runs off a pavement onto a busy road.
o A pupil is on the point of hitting another pupil, or throwing something at another pupil.
o Pupils are fighting.
o A pupil is engaged in, or is on the verge of committing, deliberate damage or vandalism to
property.
o A pupil is causing, or at risk of causing, injury or damage by accident, by rough play, or by misuse
of dangerous materials or objects.
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o A pupil is running in a corridor or on a stairway in a way in which he or she might have or cause
an accident likely to injure him or herself or others.
o A pupil absconds from a class or tries to leave school.
Pupil behaviour is prejudicial to the maintenance of good order or discipline at the school or among
any of its pupils, whether that behaviour occurs during a teaching session or otherwise, such as when:
o A pupil persistently refuses to obey an order to leave a classroom.
o A pupil is behaving in a way that is seriously disrupting a lesson.
Note that the preceding list does not claim to be exhaustive, and the use of “reasonable force” could be
warranted in a number of similar circumstances, as explained more fully in the following sections.
Reasonable force
The use of force can be regarded as reasonable only if the circumstances of the particular incident warrant
it. The degree of force employed must be in proportion to the circumstances of the incident and the
seriousness of the behaviour or the consequences it is intended to prevent. Any force used should always
be the minimum needed to achieve the desired result.
The judgement of whether it is reasonable to use force, and the degree of force that could reasonably be
employed, may also depend on the age, understanding, and sex of the pupil.
Where the risk is not so urgent the teacher should consider carefully whether, and if so when, physical
intervention is the right course of action. Teachers should always try to deal with a situation through
other strategies before using force.
Before intervening physically a teacher should, wherever practicable, tell the pupil who is misbehaving to
stop, and what will happen if he or she does not. The teacher should continue attempting to communicate
with the pupil throughout the incident, and should make it clear that physical contact or restraint will stop
as soon as it ceases to be necessary. A calm and measured approach to a situation is needed and teachers
should never give the impression that they have lost their temper, or are acting out of anger or frustration,
or to punish the pupil.
Sometimes a teacher should not intervene in an incident without help (unless it is an emergency). For
example, when dealing with an older pupil, or a physically large pupil, or more than one pupil or if the
teacher believes he or she may be at risk of injury. In those circumstances the teacher should remove
other pupils who might be at risk, and summon assistance from a colleague or colleagues, or where
necessary phone the Police. The teacher should inform the pupil(s) that he or she has sent for help. Until
assistance arrives the teacher should continue to attempt to defuse the situation orally and try to prevent
the incident from escalating.
Application of force
Physical intervention can take several forms, such as:
 Physically interposing between pupils.
 Blocking a pupil’s path.
 Holding, pushing or pulling a pupil.
 Leading a pupil by the hand or arm.
 Shepherding a pupil away by placing a hand in the centre of the back.
 In extreme circumstances (e.g., where there is an immediate risk of injury), using more restrictive
holds.
Note that members of staff should never act in a way that could result in injury to the pupil concerned,
for example by:
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Holding a pupil around the neck, or by the collar, or in any other way that might restrict the pupil’s
ability to breathe.
Slapping, punching or kicking a pupil.
Twisting or forcing limbs against a joint.
Tripping up a pupil.
Holding or pulling a pupil by the hair or ear.
Holding a pupil face down on the ground.
Staff should always avoid touching or holding a pupil in a way that might be considered indecent.
Recording incidents
It is important that there is a detailed, contemporaneous, written report of any occasion (except minor or
trivial incidents) where the use of physical intervention has been required. It may help prevent any
misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the incident, and it will be helpful should there be a complaint.
Immediately following any such incident the member of staff concerned should inform the Headmaster
and provide a written report as soon as possible afterwards. The Headmaster will keep a written log of all
such incidents.
The incident report should include the following:
 The name(s) of the pupil(s) involved, and when and where the incident took place.
 The names of any other members of staff or pupils who witnessed the incident.
 The reason that physical intervention was necessary (e.g., to prevent injury to the pupil, to another
pupil or to a member of staff).
 How the incident began and progressed, including details of the pupil’s behaviour, what was said by
each of the parties, the steps taken to defuse or calm the situation, the degree of force used, how that
was applied, and for how long.
 The pupil’s response, and the outcome of the incident.
 Details of any injury suffered by the pupil concerned, by another pupil, or by a member of staff.
 Details of any damage caused to property.
A copy of the report will be made available to the teacher and the parents of the pupil concerned.*
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Last Reviewed: August 2015