Last updated: May 2026

Review date: May 2027

Rationale

It is our aim to support all children with their behaviour to enable them to enjoy safe and inclusive experiences as part of our community. We do so through a culture of consistent approach and expectations from all our teams with regard to appropriate boundaries and adult response.

Our policy ‘Understanding and Supporting Children’s Behaviour’ sets out our philosophy, rationale and practice regarding adults’ role in supporting children’s behaviour.

The purpose of this policy is to outline the procedure to be followed in the rare case of a restrictive physical intervention (Positive Handling) being used by a member of our team towards a child.

Definition

Physical intervention: is any method of physically intervening to resolve a difficult or dangerous situation including physical restraint.

Restrictive practice: is when a member of staff uses reasonable force with the intention of restricting a child’s movement.

Seclusion: isolating a child in a room away from others and preventing the child from leaving.

Mechanical restraint: using equipment or materials to restrict or prevent movement.

Blanket restrictions: denying a child access to certain places or activities.

Chemical restraint: using drugs and medication to alter a child’s behaviour.

Examples of restrictive practice:

• Picking up a child to take them to an intervention.
• Holding a child between your legs at group time.
• Carrying a child to get them to the snack table.
• Pushing a chair closer to a table so a child cannot get out.
• Giving non prescribed medication to calm behaviour.
• Tracking a child on CCTV inside or outside the setting.