Positive Handling and Physical Intervention Awareness Toolbox Talk

This Positive Handling and Physical Intervention Awareness Toolbox Talk equips school teachers and support staff with clear, practical guidance on when and how to use physical intervention safely. It draws on the statutory framework from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and HSE recommendations on restraint.

Use this toolbox talk for:

• Staff inductions and mandatory safeguarding training
• Weekly or monthly safety briefings
• Post‑incident debrief sessions
• Review of classroom risk assessments

It explains the last‑resort and reasonable‑force principles, how to avoid positional asphyxia, the importance of certified training, and the mandatory steps for recording every incident. The guidance is written in plain English, making it easy for all staff to understand and apply.

Fully editable and shareable – you can adapt the wording, insert school‑specific procedures, and update links as legislation evolves. The school encourages staff to personalise the talk to reflect local policies and ensure relevance.

The school ensures that incident data is logged in the central safety system and reviewed quarterly to drive continuous improvement and demonstrate compliance with safeguarding duties.

Compliant with: Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2023; Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999; Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. These standards are reviewed annually to ensure ongoing alignment with legislative updates and best practice.