It is good practice for schools to speak to parents about serious incidents involving the use of force and to consider how best to record such serious incidents. It is up to schools to decide whether it is appropriate to report the use of force to parents.5
In deciding what is a serious incident, teachers should use their professional judgement and also consider the following:
- the pupil’s behaviour and level of risk presented at the time of the incident
- the degree of force used
- the effect on the pupil or member of staff
- the child’s age.
5 References to parent or parents are to fathers as well as mothers, unless otherwise stated.
