Stoneleigh Academy

Physical Intervention Policy

Rationale
The welfare of the child is the paramount consideration. Staff must
take action to protect them anyone who is paid to work with people
for whom they have a responsibility has a Duty of Care. (Children Act
1989 and Section 550 A Education Act 1996)
Purposes
To meet the requirements of the Education Act 1996 with respect
to the use of reasonable force in schools to prevent pupils:
Committing a criminal offence
Injuring themselves or others
Causing damage to property
Breaches of good order and discipline
To create and maintain a safe and well-ordered environment in
which children with identified social, emotional and behavioural
needs and school staff can feel free from fear and safe from harm
To prevent situations escalating to a point where exclusion from
school would be the inevitable outcome
To ensure that all physical intervention is carried out in line with
the Team-teach approach offering a predictable and consistent
response to challenging behaviour
Guidelines
Stoneleigh School is a Team-Teach school all members of staff
have completed a twelve hour basic course and subsequent reaccreditation as required. We adhere to the Team-Teach principles
and guidelines which advocate the use of physical intervention only

as a last resort when other forms of de-escalation and diffusion have

not been able keep a situation safe.
All staff must only ever work within the guidelines and using the
techniques that are recommended within the Team Teach
approach.
All children with persistent challenging behaviour will have an
individual Care and Support Plan which advises staff on all
aspects of the management of that child, including
recommended techniques should Physical Intervention by
unavoidable. It is the responsibility of all staff to make
themselves aware of what is written in a childs Care and
Support Plan.
All incidents of Physical Intervention must be recorded in the
numbered individual booklets which are kept in the
Headteachers office.
The use of Physical Intervention will be monitored regularly by
the Deputy Headteacher who will sign off record sheets.
Members of the Governing Body (IEB) will monitor the use of
Physical Intervention in school.
Parents/carers should be informed of any incidents of Physical
Intervention in writing on the day they occurred.

Incidents of Physical Intervention should be kept to an absolute

minimum.

This policy reviewed by Governors (IEB): September 2011