Who Has the Legal Power to Use Reasonable Force in Schools?

Any member of school staff has the legal power to use reasonable force, not just teachers.

Under Section 93 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, this power applies to any paid member of staff at a school, and can extend to people a headteacher has temporarily placed in charge of pupils, such as unpaid volunteers or a parent supervising a school trip.

Whether to use it is a matter of professional judgement, applied case by case, and only to prevent a pupil committing an offence, causing injury, damaging property, or seriously disrupting good order and never as a punishment.

Can a teacher physically restrain a child?

Yes, if it's necessary to prevent the pupil injuring themselves or someone else, committing an offence, damaging property, or seriously disrupting order - this is the same reasonable force power covered above, and it applies to physical restraint just as much as any other use of force. It must never be used as a punishment, and only the minimum force necessary, for the shortest time, is lawful.

The power itself hasn't changed, but from April 2026 schools face a new statutory duty to record significant incidents and tell parents the same day - see our full guide to the 2026 reasonable force guidance for what's different.

Are your staff ready to apply that judgement with confidence?

Knowing the legal power exists is one thing. Knowing exactly when to use it, and being able to show afterwards that your judgement was sound, is another. That's what good restraint training for schools prepares your staff for.