Physical Restraint Policy

Adopted 17th June 2019
Next review date:  April 2026  (Reviewed Triennially)

Policy Statement
The KingsGate School Board is committed to ensuring that staff and student well-being is at the heart of our policies and procedures, while ensuring inclusive practices and a safe physical and emotional environment is provided for all. Therefore, the KingsGate School Board, in line with the procedures set out in the “Education (Physical Restraint) Rules 2023”, allows teachers or authorised staff members to use physical restraint only as a last resort to ensure the safety of students and staff, in accordance with the rules and guidelines.

Definition of Physical Restraint
The Education and Training Act 2020 defines physical restraint as “...using physical force to prevent, restrict, or subdue the movement of a student’s body or part of the student’s body”. Therefore, per the Act’s definition and in compliance with section 139a, KingsGate School prohibits the use of force (including corporal punishment) against any student as defined by the Act.

Purpose
To reduce student distress and use physical restraints that do not comply with the guidelines issued by the Secretary of Education under section 101 of the Act.
To protect the well-being of staff and students.
To provide guidelines for using physical restraint when it is seen as a last resort.
To provide staff with guidelines and ideas for de-escalating serious situations.
To record any incidents of physical restraint and provide for a debriefing of these incidents.
To provide a clear pathway for complaints.
To monitor the emotional impact of such an event on staff and students.

Complaints
If any student, parent or caregiver is dissatisfied with how an incident has been handled, they are encouraged to follow the school’s complaints procedure. 

Note on Seclusion
Seclusion is when a student is involuntarily placed alone in a room, at any time or duration, from which they cannot freely exit. Even if the door is not locked or blocked, there may be a level of authority or coercion which leads the student to believe that they cannot exit the room.
Seclusion is not the same as using a timeout. 
A timeout can be when a student is asked to leave an activity or area because of their behaviour and go to another specified area where they must stay until told they can return. It can also be when students voluntarily take themselves to an agreed-upon space. 

With a timeout, the room is not locked, and although the student may understand that they should stay there, they also realise they can leave the room at any time. The point is that the student has a choice about whether to comply.

Seclusion is not to be used at KingsGate School.