Physical Intervention

This document presents the policy of Bridgelea Primary School regarding physical intervention and appropriate positive touch. It is founded on the principles of nurture and a rights-respecting approach. The policy outlines the legal framework, staff responsibilities, training requirements, and procedures aimed at ensuring that any physical intervention used is safe, reasonable, and proportionate, all in support of children’s wellbeing and safety.

Main Points

• The policy aligns with the UN Rights of the Child and fosters a nurturing, calm environment, helping to minimise the need for physical interventions.

• Physical intervention is only used as a last resort when de-escalation strategies have proven ineffective, and there is a risk of harm to the child or others.

• All physical interventions must be reasonable, proportionate, necessary, and applied for the briefest duration and least amount of force needed.

• Staff members must complete accredited Team Teach training, refreshed every two years, to enhance their skills in de-escalation and safe physical intervention.

• Any incidents involving restrictive physical intervention must be promptly recorded in the IRIS system, monitored by senior leaders, and communicated to parents in a timely manner.

• The policy clearly distinguishes between physical contact made for care, guidance, or educational purposes, and restrictive physical interventions intended to manage risk.

• Safe Base rooms are designed to provide children with a non-coercive environment to help them regulate their emotions; these rooms are never used as a means of seclusion or punishment.

• Physical presence and restriction of access are considered forms of low-level intervention but must be used appropriately and for short durations.

• The policy expressly forbids seclusion (unsupervised confinement) and stipulates that any isolation must be supervised and never involve the locking of doors.

• Staff are required to conduct dynamic risk assessments and justify any use of physical intervention, ensuring that children’s safety and dignity are respected at all times.

• Appropriate positive touch is acknowledged as vital for emotional wellbeing, with clear guidelines to ensure it is consensual, age-appropriate, and documented in communication charts.

• Parents and carers are informed of this policy upon admission and are encouraged to engage in behaviour support planning actively.

• Post-incident support and debriefing are provided for both children and staff to facilitate learning and restore relationships.

• The policy prioritises safeguarding and includes procedures for managing complaints, whistleblowing, and involving external agencies, including the police, when necessary.

• Regular monitoring of incidents informs training needs, behaviour planning, and overall school improvement.

• The policy is reviewed collaboratively with staff, governors, and parents, ensuring transparency and adherence to statutory requirements and best practice guidelines.