Outcome statement

This board is committed to a supportive and caring school environment where all students and staff are kept safe from harm and treated with dignity.

Except as authorised under this policy, no staff member may use any form of physical restraint on our students.

Our Headmaster, teachers, and board-authorised staff members can only physically restrain a student as a last resort, where: 

• the use of physical restraint is necessary to prevent imminent harm to the student or another person,

• there is a reasonable belief that there is no other option available in the circumstances to prevent the harm, and

• the physical restraint is reasonable and proportionate to the circumstances. 

This policy is to be read in conjunction with The Ministry of Education’s Physical Restraint Guidelines and Appendix 1 of the Ministry of Education’s Physical Restraint Rules.

Delegations

The board delegates to the Headmaster responsibility for:

• developing and implementing procedures and practices to prevent, plan for, and respond to student distress that meet the requirements of the Education (Physical Restraint) Rules 2023 and its amendments (“the 2023 Rules”), and

• recommending eligible non-teaching staff to the board for authorisation to use physical restraint according to requirements of the 2023 Rules.

Only the board can authorise non-teaching staff members to use physical restraint.

Expectations

All staff subject to this policy are trained to confidently apply prevention and de-escalation strategies, limiting the need to restrain a student physically according to the 2023 Rules and the relevant guidelines.

Board

The board requires:

• compliance with the 2023 Rules, and

• an evidence-based assurance from their Headmaster that this policy is being followed.

Headmaster

The Headmaster shall ensure:

• the implementation and compliance of this policy, including the completion of best practice training by all staff who are authorised to use physical restraint,

• operational compliance with the Education and Training Act 2020 and the 2023 Rules,

• all physical restraint incidents are immediately reported at the next board meeting,

• the board is informed of all relevant information (risks, trends, and impacts), and

• all non-teaching staff who may use physical restraint on a student have been authorised by the board.

• If a student has a high likelihood of needing to have Physical Restraint, an Individual Behaviour Plan will be written and made available for that student.

Monitoring

The Headmaster shall report to the board:

• on compliance, or the actions being taken to ensure compliance with this policy, the legislation, and the 2023 Rules on reducing student distress and use of physical restraint, and

• all incidents, matters, or risks relating to this policy, ensuring that the privacy of individual students is maintained.

The board shall monitor the use of physical restraint, looking for trends and any action that could be taken at the governance level to support reducing such incidents.

Definitions

As defined in the Education and Training Act 2020:

• Physical restraint: is using physical force to prevent, restrict or subdue the movement of a student’s body or part of the student’s body against the student’s will.

• Harm: means harm to the health, safety, or well-being of the student or another person, including any significant emotional distress suffered by the student or the other person.

• Authorised staff member: means an employee of a registered school who is trained and authorised by the employer to use physical restraint in accordance with Section 99 of the Act.

Legislation

Education and Training Act 2020 (Sections 99-101) Education (Physical Restraint) Rules 2023

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

Approving Authority: Board of Trustees

Date Approved: 26 April 2024

Next Review Date: April 2027