Resources from Dynamis

On this page, you will find:

  1. Positive Handling Policy Templates
  2. Positive Handling Reporting Templates
  3. National Level Guidance

RESOURCES FOR POSITIVE HANDLING MANAGEMENT

MODEL POLICY TEMPLATES

As a helpful resource for our clients, Dynamis offers this Model Policy Template to assist schools in developing suitable policies.

  1. Model Policy Template from Dynamis WORD
  2. Model Policy Template from Dynamis PDF
  3. Model Policy Template from Dynamis PAGES (MAC)

Your Physical Intervention / Positive Handling Policy is best placed within the context of the school’s Behaviour Policy; it will be part of a graduated response, and needs to be agreed in consultation with staff, governors, parents/carers, and pupils. It also connects to, and should be consistent with, policies on Health and Safety, Child Protection and safeguarding, Equal Opportunities, and Pastoral Care.

Example Incident Reporting Form

  1. Recording Restraint Incidents (WORD)
  2. Recording Restraint Incidents (short) PDF
  3. Recording Restraint Incidents (short) PAGES FOR MAC

Risk Assessment

DFES Specimen Risk Assessment Proforma for assessing and managing foreseeable risks for children who present challenging behaviours

Example proforma – challenging pupils

FORM FOR ASSESSING AND MANAGING EXPECTED RISKS FOR CHILDREN WHO PRESENT CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR 

Assessing and Managing

* Dynamis clients should note that using a pro-forma risk assessment alone comes with some cautions.  It is important that any pro-forma be approached with an eye to what questions about the child in question it is *not* asking – i.e. if there are certain aspects of behaviour or risk which are not expressly addressed in the pro-forma, then you should be prepared to add those to your assessment.

** It is also important that when you complete the risk assessment for the child in question, that you (separately) also carry out a formal, documented assessment of the risks to the staff who are looking after children in your school who may present with distress, aggression or potentially harmful (violent?) behaviours.

It is also important to consider whether you have sufficient training, knowledge and expertise in your school or your team to carry out these risk assessments competently.  A good test of whether a person understands the principles and practice of risk assessment is to ask them to explain what a frequency/severity risk scoring matrix is.  If they can explain or illustrate this for you, then they have a good understanding of what competent, court-room-ready risk assessment requires.

Department of Education Guidance:

  1. use of reasonable force advice for headteachers staff and governing bodies PDF (Current)
  2. Behaviour_and_Discipline_in_Schools_-_A_guide_for_headteachers_and_school_staff
  3. screening searching and confiscation advice for head teachers staff and governing bodies

Other Important Guidance:

  1. DOH_DfES_RPI_July02
  2. DH_LAC (93) 13 Gui04_Laming Interpretation
  3. 2019 Reducing the Need for Restraint and Restrictive Intervention 
  4. Searching and Confiscation DofEducation Guidance 
  5. Keeping Children Safe in Education KCSiE 2018 
  6. Environments Where Children Can Flourish OFSTED Guidance for Inspectors 2018 
  7. GMB Union Guidance on Violence in Schools 2019

Useful Reference Material:

  1. NSEND Guidance 230215
  2. Survey-Disruptive Pupil Behaviour-2008_JB
  3. restraint-review
  4. Guardian Report
  5. DfE DoH RPI Severe Behavioural Difficulties
  6. DfE_Health_and_Safety_Advice_06_02_14
  7. DfE Guide_to_the_children_s_homes_regulations

POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT – RESOURCES

Some Video Resources – do you need us to make one for you?