What the DfE reasonable force guidance said — advice for schools

The Department for Education’s Use of reasonable force: advice for headteachers, staff and governing bodies is a concise but influential document explaining the legal power school staff have to use reasonable force in England. Although the GOV.UK page now notes that replacement guidance comes into effect from 1 April 2026, the 2013/2015 document remains important for understanding the long-standing position: school staff may use reasonable force in limited circumstances to keep pupils, staff and others safe, but force must never be used as punishment.

Who has the power to use reasonable force

The guidance begins by clarifying that all members of school staff have a legal power to use reasonable force. This power also applies to people whom the headteacher has temporarily put in charge of pupils, such as volunteers or parents accompanying pupils on a school trip. It is a power, not a blanket duty, although staff still have a duty of care. That distinction matters. Staff are not expected to put themselves at unreasonable risk, but there may be circumstances where failing to act to prevent foreseeable harm could raise duty-of-care concerns.

What “reasonable force” covers: control and restraint

The document defines “reasonable force” as a broad range of actions involving physical contact with pupils. It can include guiding a pupil to safety by the arm, standing between pupils, blocking a pupil’s path, leading a pupil out of a classroom, breaking up a fight or restraining a pupil to prevent violence or injury. The guidance distinguishes between control and restraint. Control may involve passive contact, such as standing between pupils, or active contact, such as leading a pupil by the arm. Restraint means holding a pupil back physically or bringing them under control, typically in more serious circumstances.

The legal test: reasonable in the circumstances

The core legal test is whether the force is reasonable in the circumstances. The guidance explains this in plain terms: use no more force than is needed. The reasonableness of force depends on the specific situation, the risks present, the pupil’s needs and the consequences the intervention is intended to prevent. A member of staff must use professional judgement. The same action may be reasonable in one context and unreasonable in another.

When force may be used

Reasonable force may be used to prevent pupils from hurting themselves or others, damaging property or causing disorder. The guidance gives examples: removing a disruptive child from a classroom after refusal to leave, preventing disruption to a school event or trip, preventing a pupil leaving a classroom where this would risk safety or disrupt others, preventing an attack on staff or another pupil, stopping a playground fight, or restraining a pupil at risk of harming themselves through physical outbursts. These examples are not a licence for routine physical management. They illustrate circumstances where the risk may justify intervention.

Force can never be punishment

The guidance is unequivocal that schools cannot use force as punishment. This is always unlawful because it would amount to corporal punishment. This point should be central in every school policy and staff briefing. The purpose of force, where used, must be protective: to prevent injury, damage or serious disorder — not to punish, humiliate, coerce compliance for its own sake or express frustration.

Searching pupils

The guidance also explains the power to search pupils without consent for prohibited items such as weapons, alcohol, illegal drugs, stolen items, tobacco, fireworks, pornographic images and items likely to be used to commit an offence or cause injury or damage. Reasonable force may be used for such searches in specified circumstances, but not for items merely banned under school rules. Schools should read this alongside the separate searching, screening and confiscation guidance.

Tell staff, parents and pupils what the policy is

Communication with the school community is a major theme. Every school must have a behaviour policy and make it known to staff, parents and pupils. There is no requirement within this guidance for a separate use-of-force policy, but it is good practice to set out in the behaviour policy the circumstances in which force might be used. This helps staff understand their powers and helps parents and pupils understand what may happen in serious situations. Policies should also acknowledge the school’s legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils and pupils with special educational needs.

No “no contact” policies

The guidance strongly advises against “no contact” policies. A no-contact approach may sound protective, but it can create risk by preventing staff from intervening when a pupil is in danger or when physical support is proper and necessary. The document also reminds schools that ordinary physical contact is not illegal. Comforting a distressed pupil, giving first aid, demonstrating a PE technique, holding a young child’s hand or offering appropriate praise may all involve legitimate physical contact. The key is professional judgement, context and safeguarding awareness.

High-risk techniques are excluded

On the actual use of force, the guidance tells staff to avoid acting in ways that might cause injury, although it recognises that in extreme circumstances injury may not always be avoidable. It identifies techniques considered by an expert panel to present unacceptable risk when used on children and young people: the seated double embrace, the double basket-hold and the nose distraction technique. Schools should ensure training and policy explicitly exclude high-risk or pain-based methods.

Training is a leadership decision

Staff training is left to school-level decision-making. Headteachers should consider whether staff require additional training based on pupil needs and staff responsibilities. The guidance does not require every member of staff to receive physical intervention training, but it does expect leaders to think carefully about the profile of risk in the school. Staff who work with pupils more likely to require intervention need clear guidance, relevant information and appropriate support.

Recording, reporting and parents

The guidance says it is good practice for schools to speak to parents about serious incidents involving use of force and to consider how best to record them. In deciding whether an incident is serious, staff should consider the pupil’s behaviour, risk level, degree of force used, effect on the pupil or staff member, and the child’s age. Modern expectations around recording and reporting have moved on, and schools should check current requirements, especially the replacement guidance effective from April 2026. Nevertheless, the underlying advice remains sound: serious use of force should be transparent, recorded and reviewed.

Complaints and support for staff

The complaints section is designed to reassure staff while protecting pupils. Complaints should be investigated thoroughly, speedily and appropriately. Where staff have acted lawfully, reasonable force provides a defence to criminal prosecution or civil action. Suspension should not be automatic when staff are accused of excessive force; leaders must consider the circumstances carefully and provide pastoral support.

What it means for schools

For schools, the practical message is balanced. Staff have lawful powers and should be supported when they act reasonably to keep people safe. But force must be necessary, proportionate, based on professional judgement, sensitive to SEND and disability, never punitive, and subject to clear policy, communication and review.

Practical advice for schools

Make sure all staff understand the legal power to use reasonable force and its limits.
Include use-of-force expectations in the behaviour policy.
Never use force as punishment.
Avoid “no contact” policies that prevent reasonable protective action.
Make reasonable adjustments for pupils with SEND or disabilities.
Train staff according to risk and pupil need.
Exclude high-risk techniques and pain-based methods from practice.
Record and report serious incidents transparently and review them for learning.
Support staff who act lawfully and investigate complaints properly.

The source document

This explainer summarises the DfE advice, Use of reasonable force: advice for headteachers, staff and governing bodies (2013, reviewed 2015). The official GOV.UK publication page is: Use of reasonable force in schools, with the document as a PDF. GOV.UK lists replacement guidance effective from 1 April 2026 — schools should review their practice against the current published position.

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