Is Team Teach a Legal Requirement?

No. There's no law in England that says schools have to use Team Teach, or any other named provider, for positive handling or restraint training. The DfE's April 2026 guidance, Restrictive interventions, including use of reasonable force, in schools, doesn't set up an accreditation scheme or an approved list of providers.

What it does say is that staff who are likely to need to use reasonable force should be adequately trained in using it safely and lawfully, and in preventing incidents in the first place. It then leaves the choice of training to school leaders, as long as it reflects the guidance's principles. The legal duties that do apply, such as recording incidents and telling parents, are covered in our guide to the use of reasonable force in schools.

Team Teach is one of the best-known providers, and plenty of schools use it. It's a brand, though, not a legal standard. Your local authority or trust may still ask for a particular provider or certification, so check your own policy before making a change. If you're weighing up options, have a look at what our positive handling training for schools covers.

Team Teach is a trade mark of its owner. Stand2 is not affiliated with or endorsed by Team Teach.