School of Curiosity

Positive Handling and Physical Intervention Policy

Undated July 2025

At the School of Curiosity, we are committed to the safety and wellbeing of students and staff. This policy is written to explain our procedures in line with:

The Education Act 2011

The Children Act 1989

The Equality Act 2010

DfES/DH guidance July 2002

School Environment

In our school we create a calm environment to minimise incidents that may require any physical intervention. We de-escalate incidents when they do arise. We would only use physical interventions when the risks involved of doing so are outweighed by the risks of not doing so.

Positive Behaviour Management

All staff and volunteers adopt a positive approach to improving behaviour in order to reward effort and application, and to build self-esteem, and promote a safe environment for students and staff.

All staff work in partnership with those who know the child to help those concerned:

· Find out why this child behaves as he or she does

· Understand the factors that influence this child’s behaviour

· Identify early warning signs that indicate foreseeable behaviours are developing

This approach helps to ensure that early and preventative intervention is the norm. It reduces the incidence of extreme behaviours and makes sure that the use of physical intervention is rare.

What is physical intervention (‘reasonable force’)?

The use of force is illegal if the physical circumstances do not warrant it. The force used should always be the minimum needed to regain and ensure safety and control for everyone involved or present. The Positive Handling and Physical Intervention Policy should therefore be read in conjunction with our Behaviour and Child protection/Safeguarding Policy.

Restrictive physical interventions may include:

· Bodily contact - where the physical presence of one or more people is used to control a pupil, e.g physically interposing between pupils; blocking a pupil’s path; holding or ‘shepherding’ a pupil; using agreed, approved restricted holds

· Environmental – where a change is applied within the environment for example shutting a door or the use of locks or key pads to prevent access to a particular area. In what circumstances can physical intervention be used?

· To prevent a pupil causing, or being at risk of causing, injury or damage to themselves or others, whether by accident, rough behaviour or by misuse of materials or objects

· To prevent a pupil committing a criminal offence

· To prevent a pupil committing deliberate serious damage or vandalism

· To prevent a pupil from attacking a member of staff or another pupil

· To prevent behaviour which is prejudicial to the maintenance of good order and discipline

The decision to use physical intervention will be taken in the context of the level of risk presented by the behaviour, the seriousness of the incident and the relative risks of the use of physical intervention compared with any available alternative.

The use of physical intervention will take into account the characteristics of the pupil, including their age, gender, SEN, physical needs or disability, developmental level or cultural issues.

The Last Resort Principle

We pro-actively foster positive relationships and only use reasonable force when there is no realistic alternative. This means that we conduct a risk assessment and choose the safest alternative. We think creatively about any alternatives to physical intervention which may be effective.

There might be some situations in which the need for positive handling is immediate and where there are no equal effective alternatives (a child is about to run in the road). However, in many circumstances there are alternatives such as the use of assertiveness skills:

· Use a distracter such as a whistle or loud bell to interrupt the behaviour long enough for other methods of verbal control

· Withdrawal of attention(audience) e.g. if an action such as damage to property is threatened · Other techniques designed to defuse a situation, such as the avoidance of confrontation, or use of humour, in which case the incident could be dealt with later when emotions are running less high

Where physical interventions are needed to prevent injury to the student, other students or staff, or to prevent serious damage, these should be for the minimum length of time possible and using the least possible force. All staff must consider whether they are using reasonable force.

In all circumstances other methods should be used if appropriate and effective positive handling should be a last resort.

When positive handling becomes necessary:

DO

· Tell the pupil what you are doing and why

· Use the minimum force necessary

· Involve another member of staff if possible

· Tell the pupil what s/he must do for you to remove the restraint (this may need frequent repetition)

· Use simple and clear language

· Hold limbs above a major joint if possible e.g. above the elbow

· Relax your restraint in response to the pupil’s compliance

DON’T

· Act in temper (involve another staff member if you fear loss of control)

· Involve yourself in a prolonged verbal exchange with the pupil

· Attempt to reason with the pupil

· Involve other pupils in the restraint

· Touch or hold the pupil in sexual areas

· Twist or force limbs back against a joint

· Bend fingers or pull hair

· Hold the pupil in a way which will restrict blood flow or breathing e.g. around the neck, lying face down or pulling arms across the child’s chest

· Slap, punch, kick or trip up the pupil

Responding to Unforeseen Emergencies

Even the best planning systems cannot cover every eventuality and the school recognises that there are unforeseen or emergency situations in which staff have to think on their feet. It is not enough to thoughtlessly apply rules without thinking through the likely consequences. The key principles are that any physical intervention should be:

· In the best interest of the child

· Necessary and proportionate

· Intended to reduce risk

· The least intrusive and restrictive of those options available which are likely to be effective.

Whenever a physical intervention has to be made there should be a verbal warning. Where possible, staff should always attempt to use diversion or diffusion in preference to physical interventions. They should only use the techniques and methods approved for use in this school.

Recording

Whenever overpowering force is used the incident must be recorded using the form Appendix A - POSITIVE HANDLING AND PHYSICAL INTERVENTION – INCIDENT REPORT FORM.

The Incident book is kept in the Stable Room. All staff involved in an incident should contribute to the record which should be completed within 24 hours. The details recorded on the forms are kept confidentially.

Parents/carers must also be notified.