HINCHINGBROOKE 

SCHOOL

Policy Statement

on

PHYSICAL INTERVENTION

Drawn up by:                                                  SJE

Date:                                                                September 2004

Date adopted by Governing Body:                 30 September 2004

1.0        Introduction

1.1       This policy is based on DfEE circular 10/98 and the corresponding Cambridgeshire LEA document ‘Guidance on Physical Intervention for Teachers

for Teachers and Other Employees Working with Young People in Schools and other Educational Settings’.

1.2       Hinchingbrooke recognises that there is a need, reflected in common law, to intervene when there is an obvious risk of safety to its pupils, staff

and property.

1.3       Hinchingbrooke is committed to ensuring that all staff and adults with responsibility for children's safety and welfare will deal professionally with

all incidents involving aggressive or reckless behaviour, and only use physical intervention as a last resort in line with DfEE and LEA advice.  If used at

all it will be in the context of a respectful, supportive relationship with the pupil.  We will always aim to ensure minimal risk of injury to pupils and staff.

1.4       This policy applies to all staff who are authorised to use physical intervention (See Section 9.0 for details).

2.0        Our approach to best practice

2.1       The best practice regarding physical intervention outlined below should be considered alongside other relevant policies in the school, specifically

those policies involving  behaviour, bullying  and health and safety.

2.2       In the following situations staff must judge whether or not physical intervention would be reasonable or appropriate:

• risk to the safety of staff, pupils or visitors; or
• where there is a risk of serious damage to property; or
• where a pupil’s behaviour is seriously prejudicial to good order and discipline; or
• where a pupil is committing a criminal offence.

2.3       This judgement will take into account the circumstances of the incident.  All staff should be aware that the use of physical intervention in response

to a clear or developing danger of injury will always be more justifiable than the use of force to prevent damage or misbehaviour.

 

2.4       Staff will view physical intervention or restraint of pupils as a last resort to maintaining a safe environment.  If pupils are behaving disruptively or

anti-socially, every effort will be made to manage behaviour positively to prevent a deterioration of the situation. 

 

2.5      Staff will understand the importance of listening to and respecting children to create an environment which is generally calm and supportive

especially when dealing with pupils who may have emotional and behavioural needs which may increase their despair and aggression.

 

2.6       All staff will understand the importance of responding to the feelings of the child which lie beneath the behaviour as well as to the behaviour itself.

3.0        Our Practice re: specific incidents:

3.1       Staff intervening with children will seek assistance from other members of staff at as early a stage as possible since single-handed intervention

increases the risks of injury to both parties and does not provide a witness.

3.2       All staff who become aware that another member of staff is intervening physically with a pupil will have a responsibility to provide a presence,

and to offer support and assistance should this be required.

3.3       Before intervening in a non-emergency, consideration will be given to whether or not other staff are available to assist.

3.4       Where possible, staff who have not been involved in the initial confrontation leading up to an incident may be in a better position to intervene or

restrain the pupil if this proves necessary.

3.5       A pupil's behaviour may be adversely affected by the presence of an audience.  Wherever possible, the audience will be removed, or if this is not

possible, the pupil will be removed from the audience. The pupil and member(s) of staff will withdraw to a quiet, but not completely private, place (eg two

members of staff should be present or a door left open so that others are aware of the situation).

3.6       Staff will be aware of the need to tell the pupil being restrained, in a calm and gentle manner, that the reason for the intervention is to keep the

pupil and others safe. Staff will explain that as soon as the pupil calms down, she/he will be released.

3.7       All staff are aware that we operate a back-up system to enable staff to call for help in emergencies.

4.0       Physical Intervention/Restraint Approaches which can be regarded as reasonable in appropriate circumstances

4.1       The following approaches are regarded as reasonable in appropriate circumstances.

a)       Holding for security and to reduce anxiety where there is potential risk, even if the pupil is not yet out of control.  This is best used when the

pupil is anxious or confused.  Its purpose is to defuse or prevent escalation.  Staff should take care that their actions should in no way be capable of

being interpreted by the pupil as aggression.

b)       Physically interposing between pupils.

c)       Blocking a pupil's path.

d)       Pushing if restricted to situations where reasonable force is used to resist a pupil's movement, rather than a forceful push that might cause

the pupil to fall over.

e)       Pulling.

f)       Leading a pupil by the hand or arm.

g)       Shepherding a pupil away by placing a hand in the centre of the back.

h)       In extreme cases using restrictive holds (see 5.0 below).

5.0        Holds to be avoided except for the most extreme circumstances

5.1       The following holds should not generally be used other than in the most extreme emergency. This is when emergency action is needed to prevent

the risk of serious injury or loss of life (eg to prevent a pupil running into a busy road or to stop an extremely violent assault on one pupil by another pupil):

• holding a pupil around the neck, or by the collar, or in any other way that might restrict a pupil's ability to breathe;
• slapping, punching or kicking a pupil;
• twisting or forcing limbs against a joint;
• tripping a pupil;
• holding a pupil by the hair or ear;
• holding a pupil face down on the ground.

6.0        Recording an incident

6.1       All incidents that result in non-routine interventions will be recorded in detail.

 

6.2       Contemporaneous notes (ie written within 24 hours of the incident's occurrence) will be made by the staff member involved in the original incident. 

 

6.3       Similarly, contemporaneous notes will also be made by any other members of staff involved (ie as witnesses or additional providers of support). The

notes will be signed and dated.

 

6.4       The notes will contain the following information:

• The name(s) and the job title(s) of the member(s) of staff who used reasonable force.
• The name(s) of the pupil(s) involved.
• When and where the incident took place.
• Names of staff and pupils who witnessed the incident.
• The reason that force was necessary.
• The progress of the incident.  Include details of:
  • behaviour of the pupil which led up to the incident;
  • any attempts to resolve the situation;
  • what was said by staff and pupils;
  • the degree of force used;
  • how it was applied;
  • how long it was used for.
• The pupil's response and the eventual outcome.
• Details of any injuries suffered by either staff or pupils.
• Details of any damage to property.
• Details of any medical treatment required (an accident form will be completed).
• Details of any follow-up, including contact with the parents/carers of the pupil(s) involved.
• Any other relevant details eg the involvement of any other agency, eg the Police.

6.5       Pupil witnesses may also be asked to provide a written account if appropriate.

6.6       These notes should be kept in the pupil's file and retained until the pupil reaches the age of 24.

6.7       Routine incidents of physical intervention, usually for pupils with identified needs as set out in the pupil's Individual Education Plan, Individual

Behaviour Plan and/or Pastoral Support Plan (also see Appendix II) will need to be recorded as follows:

• Name of child.
• Date.
• Name of member of staff who intervened.
• Name of any witnesses.
• Brief description of the reason for intervention.
• Brief description of action taken.
• Details of any follow up with parents.

7.0        Debriefing Arrangements

7.1       The pupil and the member of staff will be checked for any sign of injury after an incident. First aid will be administered to anyone who requires it.

7.2       The pupil will be given time to become calm while staff continue to supervise her/him.  When the pupil regains complete composure, a senior member

of staff (or her/his nominee) will discuss the incident with the pupil and try to ascertain the reason for its occurrence. The pupil will be given an opportunity to

explain things from her/his point of view.  All necessary steps will be taken to re-establish the relationship between the pupil and the member(s) of staff

involved in the incident.

7.3       In cases where it is not possible to speak to the pupil on the same day as the incident occurred, the debrief will take place as soon as possible after

the pupil returns to school

7.4       All members of staff involved will be allowed a period to debrief and recover from the incident.  This may involve access to external support.  A senior

member of staff (or her/his nominee) will provide support to the member of staff involved.

7.5       The Headteacher will be informed at the earliest possible opportunity of any incidents where physical intervention or restraint was used.  The

Headteacher (or his/her nominee) will initiate the recording process if not already underway (see 6.0) and review each incident to ensure that any necessary

lessons are learned.

7.6       See paragraph 10.1 about informing parents.

8.0        Training Needs of Staff

 

8.1       In cases where it is known that a pupil will require physical intervention on occasions, appropriate training will be provided (accessed through the LEA)

for relevant staff. Staff involved will identify their training needs in this area.

9.0        Authorisation of staff to use physical intervention

9.1       We recognise that most of the time physical intervention will be used infrequently, that is, as a last resort to maintaining a safe environment. 

 

9.2       All teaching staff are, by the nature of their roles, authorised to use physical intervention as appropriate.  Non-teaching staff will require specific

authorisation, either temporarily or permanently. This authorisation can only be given by the headteacher or someone deputising for the headteacher when

s/he is absent. Authorised staff will be notified formally.  Permanently authorisations are noted in appendix 1.

9.3       This policy will next be reviewed and updated in September 2007 or sooner if LEA guidance changes.

9.4       Governors will be informed of the number of physical interventions via the termly Personnel sub-committee meeting.

10.0     Arrangements for Informing Parents

10.1      Parents will be informed of the school's policy regarding physical intervention in the following ways:

• At the outset of the introduction of this policy, all parents/carers will be informed about the policy via the school newsletter.
• Thereafter, a section about the school's legal obligations to maintain a safe environment and the possible use of physical intervention (as a very last

resort) with pupils will be included in the school brochure.*

• Staff who work with particular children who have learning or physical disabilities (and who have Individual Education Plans, Individual Behaviour Plans

and/or Pastoral Support Plans) may need to use specific techniques routinely to manage challenging behaviour.  Such arrangements will be discussed

with parents/carers in advance on an individual basis. All interventions will be routinely recorded (See Appendix 2).

• Parents will be informed after a non-routine incident where physical intervention is used with their child.
• Paragraph 1.3 of this document could be used as a form of words. 

Appendix I

Non-teaching staff who have been authorised permanently to use physical intervention with pupils

The following non-teaching staff have been authorised permanently by the Headteacher to use reasonable force to intervene with pupils (only) to respond to

circumstances where staff, pupils, visitors or members of the public could be in danger. 

They have been given appropriate advice by the Headteacher over the use of reasonable force.

Name                                                                                     Position

None at present

The following members of non-teaching staff have been authorised temporarily to use reasonable force as above (eg for the duration of a school trip).

Name                          Position                                 Period of authorisation

None at present

Appendix II

Procedures for managing pupils with physical or learning needs who routinely require control or physical intervention.  This is more likely to be the case

for staff in Special Schools rather than in mainstream.

Any pupil who falls into this category will have a clear plan for physical intervention agreed in advance with parents.  The plan, which may form part of the child

Pastoral Support Plan, should be regularly updated.  The plan will include:

• What physical intervention techniques (ie specific holds) may be used with the child and in what circumstances; if used, these will be briefly recorded
• routinely.
• What briefing and/or training has been given to staff.
• Arrangements for additional support where necessary.
• Any medical requirements of the child.

All details of any possible physical intervention will be discussed fully with parents/carers in advance.  Any departures from the plan will be recorded and discussed

with parents/carers.

See Section 6.7 for details about recording such incidents.

Appendix III

(contains the Individual Behaviour Plans for pupils referred to above and is being kept confidentially).