April 2026 DfE Guidance: What Schools Must Do Now About Restrictive Interventions

From April 2026, schools across England will need to follow updated Department for Education guidance on restrictive interventions. This new guidance replaces ‘Use of reasonable force (2013)’ and introduces new legal responsibilities and a stronger focus on prevention, pupil support and consistent reporting.

The changes mark a significant shift in how schools must approach behaviour management, particularly for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). For many settings, the new requirements will mean revising policies, refreshing training and improving systems for recording and reviewing incidents.

At SecuriCare, we support schools through these changes with training and practical guidance designed to reduce risk and strengthen confidence across staff teams.

What’s New in April 2026?

1. New Legal Requirements for Recording and Reporting

The government has introduced new regulations that make recording and reporting of certain incidents mandatory. The key legal changes include:

These rules require schools to document and report incidents involving:

Reasonable force
Restraint (including non-force restraint)
Seclusion

This is a major compliance requirement and schools must also ensure parents receive written information about incidents where these interventions occur.

2. Reasonable Force Remains Legal but Must Be Used Carefully

Staff retain the legal power to use reasonable force in limited circumstances, for example to prevent harm or serious disorder.

However, the updated guidance is clear that force should only be used as a last resort and only when de-escalation has been attempted and proven insufficient. The use of force on a pupil for the purpose of punishment remains unacceptable. Any intervention must be:

Necessary
Proportionate
The minimum required to keep pupils and staff safe

3. Recording Must Be Clear, Timely and Consistent

One of the most significant changes is the requirement for written records that are created as soon as possible and within the same day wherever feasible.

Records must include the key facts of the incident, including:

Who was involved
The pupil’s needs or SEND status
When and where it happened
What happened and why the intervention was necessary
What steps were taken to de-escalate first
The type of intervention used
Any injuries or follow-up support

This ensures incidents are not only tracked but reviewed properly, enabling schools to learn and reduce future risk.

4. Stronger Focus on SEND and Prevention

The new guidance places a greater emphasis on supporting pupils with SEND, including:

Making reasonable adjustments
Creating individualised behaviour support plans
Prioritising preventative strategies to reduce escalation

This is designed to help schools proactively support pupils and reduce the need for restrictive interventions.

5. Statutory Requirements vs Best Practice Guidance

It’s important to distinguish what is legally required and what is recommended:

Recording and reporting requirements are statutory
The broader guidance around behaviour management and prevention is non-statutory, but strongly encouraged as best practice

This distinction matters because schools must have systems in place to meet legal obligations while also embedding safer, more effective practice across the setting.

What Schools Need to Do Next

To meet the new requirements, schools should:

Review and update behaviour and restraint policies
Refresh staff training on de-escalation and safe intervention
Implement consistent incident recording processes
Ensure parents are informed appropriately
Use data to identify patterns and reduce reliance on restrictive interventions
Strengthen SEND support and reasonable adjustments

These steps require time, planning and support, particularly for schools already facing staff shortages and workload pressures.

How SecuriCare Can Help Schools Navigate the Change

SecuriCare has supported schools for over 30 years with training that promotes safer practice and reduces risk. Our approach helps schools adapt to the new guidance in a practical and manageable way.

Our training supports schools to:

✔ Reduce the frequency of restrictive interventions
✔ Build confidence in staff through skills-based training
✔ Improve reporting and record-keeping
✔ Support pupils with SEND through tailored strategies, including: emotional regulation and supporting neurodiversity
✔ Develop consistent, school-wide approaches

Training That Makes a Difference

SecuriCare training is focused on real-world outcomes, including:

Fewer incidents of restraint or seclusion
Better staff wellbeing and confidence
Safer environments for pupils and staff
Clearer compliance and audit trails

Ready for April 2026? SecuriCare Can Help You Prepare

The new guidance is a major change but it also presents an opportunity to strengthen behaviour support and improve safety across your school.

If you need help updating policies, training staff or implementing recording systems, SecuriCare can support your organisation through every step.

Contact SecuriCare today to discuss how we can help your school meet the April 2026 requirements with confidence.