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The aim of positive handling
A boy holding his carer's hand

The educational aim of positive handling is not one of punishment or control
- it is to promote learning.

Within the context of the legal framework discussed in the previous
resource, schools should have an open, clear and transparent system of positive handling.

The system needs to support all those involved - children, parents and staff.

There is a wide variety of situations in which reasonable force might be appropriate, or necessary, to control or restrain a child. These fall into three broad categories:

  1. Where action is necessary because there is an imminent risk of injury.
  2. Where there is a developing risk of injury, or significant damage
    to property.
  3. Where a pupil is behaving in a way that is compromising good order
    and discipline.

Using reasonable force
A boy and his carer facing each other

Reasonable force should be based on providing the maximum
amount of care, control and therapeutic support, reflecting the message: "I care enough about you not to let you be out of control."

Planned responses and techniques should be written out and included in individual behaviour support and intervention plans or sometimes known as Personal Handling Plans.

Following a restraint there should be a supportive and reflective structure in place for both the staff and children involved.

All incidents using restraint are reported, recorded, monitored and evaluated.

The emphasis should be on caring, protecting and enhancing positive relationships.

The range of positive handling
A boy holding his carer's hand

Most of the time (95%) staff should use positive handling strategies to manage children's behaviour and emotional problems. Positive handling strategies include physical and non-physical interventions. Examples include: the use of space; changes to the environment; stance and posture; facial expressions; intonation; simple positive messages.

Much less often (5% of the time) staff may need to use physical interventions to manage children's behavioural and emotional problems. Examples include: prompts; guides, escorts, holds; restraint.

In only a minority of cases (1% of the time) staff will need to use Restrictive Physical Intervention (RPI) to manage children's behaviour and emotional problems. RPI is: 'the use of force to control a person's behaviour' (Department of Health and Department for Education and Science Skills, RPI, July 2002).RPI is: 'the use of force to control a persons behaviour' (Department of Health and Department for Education and Science Skills, RPI, July 2002). Examples include: prompts; guides, escorts, holds; restraint; RPI; personal safety, disengage techniques from dangerous or harmful physical contact (may involve 'minimal discomfort').

The use of restraint
A carer calms a distressed boy

Restraint is the positive application of force by adults in order to overcome rigorous resistance and completely directing, deciding and controlling a child's free movement.

The purpose of restraint should be to safeguard the child, other children or adults, or to prevent significant damage to property.

The proper use of restraint requires knowledge, understanding, skill and judgement.

Using physical intervention

Listen to this audio clip in which Andy, the headteacher of a special school, talks about using physical intervention in his school. He refers to Team Teach, which is the name of the particular approach used in his school.


How does Andy justify using physical restraint?


How is it used alongside other interventions?


What does he say about the continuum of intervention?


How is the effectiveness of intervention monitored?

  • Poster
                  Image

Some answers

Find out more about:
A teacher comforts a young boy who is
                  distressed
  • The approach to positive handling in your school.
  • Which forms are used to plan and record.
  • Where records are kept.
  • Risk assessment and management.
  • Other related issues such as physical intervention and positive handling.

A good place to start is with your school's policy on these matters.