Use of Reasonable Force in Schools: Changes from April 2026

Whilst the New Guidance is primarily non-statutory, schools must be aware that it does contain statutory guidance issued under section 93A of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. Schools must have regard to this in relation to recording and reporting each significant incident involving the use of force by members of staff.

Why has the Use of Reasonable Force guidance been replaced from April 2026?

The New Guidance has been produced to provide new statutory guidance about recording and reporting the use of force effective from April 2026, and to provide advice about the new legal duty to record and report the use of seclusion effective from April 2026.

In addition, the New Guidance clarifies the use of reasonable force to help school staff use this power safely and appropriately. It also provides advice on several points, including the use of seclusion, how schools can minimise the need to use restrictive interventions, support for staff who work with pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and the responsibilities of school staff and governing bodies.

Legal duties to record and report to parents

The New Guidance sets out the legal duty to report to the parents any incidents which involve reasonable force, seclusion and restraint. This includes non-force restraint, such as the removal of a walking aid.

Where there is an incident involving the use of force, the New Guidance specifically states that a report of the incident made to parents should include the following details as a minimum:

• time, date, location and approximate duration of the intervention

• brief account of why the intervention was assessed as necessary

• brief account of what type of force was applied, and the degree of force

• details of any physical injuries sustained, if applicable

In the case of seclusion or non-force related restraint, the maintained schools must supply a copy of the written record of the seclusion or restraint incident to the parents. Academies, independent schools, and non-maintained special schools must ensure they provide information about the seclusion or restraint incident in writing to parents.

A written report should be made to the pupil’s parents as soon as practicable after the incident, but no later than the same day. However, the duty to make a report to the parents will not apply if:

• the pupil is aged 20 or over

• making a report would be likely to result in serious harm to the pupil, in which case the report should be made to any parent(s) who it can be reported to without resulting in significant harm or, if there are none, to the local authority where the  pupil is ordinarily resident

Best practice would also include inviting parents to a follow-up discussion about the incident, where appropriate.

Legal duties to record incident

Records must also be completed as soon as practicable after the event by the staff involved, and they should endeavour to do this no later than the same day.

When it comes to making the record, the New Guidance sets out specific details which should be recorded as a minimum. These include:

• names of pupil and staff directly involved

• any relevant needs or circumstances of the pupil, including whether the pupil has  identified SEND and their SEN status code

• time, date, location and approximate duration of the intervention

• in the case of reasonable force being used, a brief account of the incident, any known identified or potential triggers if known, any preventative or de-escalation strategies used, and the type and degree of reasonable force applied

• why the intervention was deemed necessary

• details of any physical injuries sustained

• any post-incident support, such as details of any medical treatment for injuries or other adverse impacts

Seclusion

Schools will also notice that the New Guidance includes guidance on seclusion, which is not covered in the current Use of Reasonable Force guidance.

It is clarified that seclusion should only be used as a safety measure to protect others from harm when a pupil is experiencing high levels of emotional or behavioural dysregulation. The pupil should be able to leave seclusion as soon as the immediate risk of harm has reduced. This is because the pupil is not acting with intent, and therefore seclusion is not a disciplinary response to deliberate or wilful misbehaviour. This also means that staff should not use seclusion as a threat of punishment.

In addition, the New Guidance states that the seclusion area should not feel threatening or intimidating to the pupil. Whilst they are in the seclusion area, pupils should be supervised at all times.

Prevention and de-escalation

Schools should also be conscious that, when the New Guidance becomes effective from 1 April 2026, they are expected to have a policy on the use of restrictive interventions, aligned with the school’s legal duties, although it may be part of the school’s behaviour policy.

As part of a stronger emphasis on prevention and de-escalation, the policy should emphasise the importance of minimising the need to use restrictive interventions, such as through prevention and de-escalation.

Where a pupil has SEND, school staff should work with the pupil, parents and other professionals to develop prevention and de-escalation strategies,  and where there is an identified risk, such as increased likelihood in the need to use reasonable force or other restrictive interventions, schools must have risk assessments in place and where possible, mitigate risks where possible.

Practical steps for schools

Schools should take steps ahead of April 2026 to understand and be ready to implement the New Guidance. As a minimum, we would expected this to include conducting a review of your use of reasonable force policy, including where this is included in the school’s behaviour policy, and ensuring that any necessary staff training is carried out.

If you require support with your school’s policy review, or staff training in readiness for the New Guidance in April 2026, please get in touch.