New DfE Guidance on Restrictive Interventions - Your Next Steps

April 2026 marks a significant shift in how schools must approach the use of reasonable force and restrictive interventions.

The Department for Education has published comprehensive new guidance that replaces the 2013 "Use of reasonable force" document. More than just an update, this guidance introduces new statutory duties and provides clearer expectations around recording, reporting and prevention.

What's changed?

From April 2026, schools face new statutory requirements for recording and reporting incidents where staff use force on pupils. These aren't optional, they're legal duties under section 93A of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.

The guidance also introduces requirements around seclusion (keeping a pupil confined to a place and prevented from leaving). Schools must now record and report seclusion incidents under the Schools (Recording and Reporting of Seclusion and Restraint) Regulations 2025.

The bigger picture: prevention first

What sets this guidance apart is its emphasis on minimising the need for restrictive interventions in the first place. The document dedicates significant space to prevention and de-escalation strategies, recognising that the best approach is one where force rarely needs to be used.

Schools are expected to implement both whole-school measures (like training staff in effective communication and creating supportive environments) and individual approaches (including behaviour support plans and working closely with parents).

SEND considerations

The guidance acknowledges that pupils with SEND are disproportionately subject to restrictive interventions. It provides specific advice on understanding triggers, creating inclusive environments, and co-producing behaviour support plans with pupils and parents.

This is particularly important given the guidance's emphasis on considering pupil welfare, dignity and the equality implications of any intervention.

What you need to do now

Every school in England needs to:

• Review or create a policy on restrictive interventions that aligns with the new statutory guidance
• Establish clear procedures for recording and reporting incidents (to parents on the same day where possible)
• Train staff on when and how to use reasonable force safely and appropriately
• Implement prevention strategies to reduce the need for interventions
• Review data regularly to identify patterns, disproportionality, and areas for improvement

The recording and reporting requirements alone represent a significant shift in practice for many schools. Incidents must be recorded by staff involved on the same day, with detailed information including triggers, de-escalation strategies used, and post-incident support provided.

Get the support you need

Understanding and implementing this guidance can feel overwhelming, particularly when you're balancing the statutory duties with the day-to-day realities of supporting pupils with complex needs.

Our Restrictive Interventions Bundle provides practical resources to help you meet these new requirements with confidence. From policy templates and staff training materials to recording logs and behaviour support plan frameworks, we've done the heavy lifting so you can focus on implementation.

The April 2026 deadline is here. Make sure your school is ready.

Key dates:

• April 2026: New statutory recording and reporting duties for use of force come into effect
• April 2026: New recording and reporting duties for seclusion and restraint come into effect