How to record and report restrictive interventions

Understand your new legal duty to record significant incidents involving the use of force on a pupil, and report these to parents. Find out how to record and who to report to, and download our guide and template to support staff with the process.

Last reviewed on 23 February 2026
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 53060
Contents
  1. You're required to record and report restrictive interventions
  2. Who needs to internally record what
  3. How to support staff with internally recording interventions
  4. How to report to parents
  5. How to report to governors

Please note: where we've used 'parent' in this article, this includes carers and any other person who has parental responsibility. 

You're required to record and report restrictive interventions

Your school has a legal duty to record and report each significant incident in which a member of staff uses any of the following on a pupil:

  • Reasonable force
  • Seclusion
  • Restraint (with or without direct physical contact)

This may be something you're already doing.

See this article for an overview of the new requirements and guidance, including definitions of key terms such as 'restrictive intervention', 'reasonable force' and seclusion.

Staff member uses a restrictive intervention on a pupil The staff member(s) involved internally records the incident in writing, as soon as possible after the event – they should endeavour to do this no later than the same day Staff member or senior leader (depending on your policy*) reports the incident to the pupil's parents – they