KCSIE 2026 covers reasonable force in Part two (paragraphs 205 to 207). It says there are limited circumstances when staff may use it to safeguard children, from guiding a child to safety by the arm to restraining a child to prevent violence or injury (paragraph 205). The power comes from section 93 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.
KCSIE says a "no contact" policy can leave staff unable to protect pupils, and expects schools to have sensible policies that let staff make appropriate physical contact. Whether to use force is a matter of professional judgement in the circumstances (paragraph 206).
For pupils with SEND, mental health needs or medical conditions, schools should recognise their extra vulnerability, consider their duties under the Equality Act 2010, and plan positive behaviour support, such as individual behaviour plans agreed with parents, to reduce the need for force (paragraph 207).
What changed in 2026. The DfE's guidance "Restrictive interventions, including the use of reasonable force, in schools" took effect on 1 April 2026, replacing "Use of reasonable force in schools", which applied until 31 March 2026. Schools should check their policy against the new guidance.
An allegation that force was used inappropriately is handled through the harm threshold process. KCSIE says the strategy discussion or initial evaluation with the LADO should take into account that staff are entitled to use reasonable force in some circumstances (paragraph 447), and suspension should never be an automatic response to an allegation (paragraph 462).