| Date Created | Date 1st Review Due | Date Reviewed | Version | Next Review Due |
| April 2026 | April 2027 | 1 | ||
Statement of Intent
Egham Park School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare, dignity and rights of all pupils. As a specialist SEMH setting, we recognise that behaviour is a form of communication and prioritise prevention, de-escalation and therapeutic approaches.
Restrictive interventions, including the use of reasonable force, will only ever be used as a last resort, where necessary to prevent harm, and in line with statutory guidance effective from April 2026.
Legal and Statutory Framework
This policy is based on:
- “Restrictive interventions, including the use of reasonable force, in schools” (DfE, effective 1 April 2026)
- Education and Inspections Act 2006 (Section 93)
- Schools (Recording and Reporting of Seclusion and Restraint) (England) Regulations 2025
- Independent School Standards (as amended)
From April 2026, schools have a legal duty to:
- Record all significant incidents of force, restraint or seclusion
- Report incidents to parents in writing the same day (or as soon as practicable)
Definitions
Restrictive Intervention:
Any action that restricts a pupil’s movement, liberty, or freedom, including:
- Physical restraint
- Seclusion (confinement away from others)
- Non-force restrictive practices
Reasonable Force:
The minimum force necessary, used for the shortest time, to:
- Prevent injury to themselves or other
- Prevent damage to property
- Prevent a criminal offence being committed
- Prevent serious disruption amongst pupils at the school, whether during a teaching session or otherwise
Seclusion:
Keeping a pupil alone in a space and preventing them from leaving. Must never be used as punishment.
Guiding Principles
- Last resort: All preventative strategies must be attempted first
- Proportionate & necessary: Force must match the risk
- Shortest duration
- Dignity and respect should be maintained at all times
- Child-centred and trauma-informed approach
- Safeguarding first
The school actively works to minimise the need for restrictive interventions through early support and de-escalation strategies.
Prevention and De-escalation
Staff must prioritise:
- Individual Behaviour Needs and agreed Support Plans
- Positive behaviour strategies
- Therapeutic approaches (e.g. P.A.C.E. Approach)
- Environmental adaptations
- Early intervention and co-regulation
- Clear communication and predictable routines
When Reasonable Force May Be Used
Staff may use reasonable force only when necessary to:
- Prevent injury to themselves or other
- Prevent damage to property
- Prevent a criminal offence being committed
- Prevent serious disruption amongst pupils at the school, whether during a teaching session or otherwise
Force must not:
- Be used as punishment
- Restrict breathing or circulation
- Involve pain compliance
- Include prone (face-down) restraint
- Apply pressure to neck, chest, abdomen, or airway
Use of Seclusion
Seclusion may only be used:
- To prevent immediate harm
- For the shortest time possible
- Under continuous supervision
It must never:
- Be used for discipline
- Replace appropriate support strategies
All incidents must be recorded and reported.
Staff Training
The school ensures that:
- Staff likely to use force are appropriately trained
- Training includes:
- De-escalation techniques
- Safe physical intervention
- Safeguarding and trauma-informed practice
Recording and Reporting (Statutory Requirement)
Recording
All significant incidents must be recorded as soon as possible and on the same day.
Records must include:
- Pupil name and details
- Staff involved
- Date, time, location, duration
- Antecedents and triggers
- De-escalation strategies attempted
- Reason intervention was necessary
- Type of intervention used
- Level of force used
- Any injuries or distress
- Follow-up actions and support
Reporting to Parents
Parents/carers must be:
- Informed in writing the same day (or as soon as practicable)
- Provided with full details of the incident
Follow-up Meeting
The school will:
- Invite parents to a follow-up meeting
- Review:
- The incident
- Triggers and support needs
- Adjustments to behaviour/support plans
- Agree next steps and preventative strategies
Monitoring, Governance and Oversight
The school will:
- Maintain a central log of all incidents
- Report anonymised data to:
- Advisory Board/ Proprietor
- Ensure safeguarding oversight via DSL
Safeguarding and Complaints
- All incidents are treated as safeguarding matters
- Any concerns about inappropriate use of force:
- Reported to DSL immediately
- Investigated under safeguarding procedures
- Parents may use the school’s complaints procedure
Links to Other Policies
- Safeguarding / Child Protection
- Behaviour Policy
- SEND Policy
- Complaints Policy
Compliance Statement
This policy:
- Meets statutory requirements effective 1 April 2026
- Reflects legal duties on recording and reporting
- Aligns with Independent School Standards (ISI)
- Supports safeguarding, transparency and accountability
Appendix A – Incident Recording Form (Template)
Restrictive Intervention / Reasonable Force Record
| Pupil Name: | |
| DOB: | |
| Incident Date: | |
| Incident Time: | |
| Incident Location: | |
| Incident Duration: | |
| Staff Involved: (Names and Roles) | |
| Antecedent /Triggers: (What happened before the incident) | |
| De-escalation Strategies Used: (Detail all strategies attempted prior to intervention) | |
| Reason for Interventions: (Why was force/seclusion necessary) | |
| Type of Intervention Used: Physical RestraintSeclusionOther (Specify) | |
| Description of Intervention: Techniques UsedLevel of ForceDuration | |
| Outcome How did the incident end? | |
| Injuries/Distress: PupilStaff | |
| Pupil Voice: (Where possible, record pupils’ perspective) | |
| Follow Up Actions: Support required going forward.IBP Plan required?Changes to IBP Plan required? | |
| Parent/Guardian Communication: Date/Time InformedMethod (Email/Telephone)Summary of Information Shared | |
| Parent Meeting: Date Offered:Outcome: | |
| Staff Signature: NameSignatureDate | |
| Senior Leader Review: NameSignatureDate: |
Appendix B
Parental Notification Template
| Name of Child: | |
| Date of Incident: | |
| Location of Incident: | |
| Staff member(s) Involved: | |
| Reason Intervention was Necessary: | |
| Outcome and Pupil Wellbeing: | |
| Invitation to Follow-Up Meeting: | |
| Contact Details: |
Ref:Restrictive Interventions and Reasonable Force – April 2026 – GOV.UK