What the DfE reasonable force guidance said — advice for schools
All school staff, and adults temporarily in charge such as volunteers, have a legal power to use reasonable force, though never as punishment. The post explains the reasonable in the circumstances test.
DfE Guidance on Restrictive Interventions — What the 2026 Updates Mean | Positive Handling
How the 2026 DfE guidance lands in practice, beginning with a comparison against current policy, training records, risk assessments and reporting, and asking whether a school could prove necessity and proportionality.
The 2026 DfE Guidance on Restrictive Interventions: What School Leaders Should Be Reviewing Now
The 2026 DfE guidance shifts the test from having a policy to showing each restrictive intervention was necessary, proportionate and properly recorded, with parents told promptly and seclusion reviewed.
Reporting to parents: why same-day communication protects trust
Late, vague news from the wrong person damages trust. The post explains why same-day contact and a written account matter, and sets out five stages starting with welfare checks.