Minimising student distress in schools

The Education (Physical Restraint) rules set out the specific actions schools need to take to reduce student distress and minimise physical restraint. These include developing policies and procedures, staff training, and compulsory reporting.

Aramai He Tētēkura |Arise our Future Generations guidelines

Aramai He Tētēkura | Arise our Future Generations guidelines help staff working with ākonga | students understand and address the factors that contribute to distress. It provides a practical approach schools can use to address distress without resorting to physical restraint.

The starting point for the guidelines, the compulsory online module Physical Restraint - Understanding the Rules and Guidelines and the Aramai He Tētēkura Minimising Physical Restraint learning resource is a firm belief that:

• every ākonga has tapu, mana and potential
• every ākonga deserves to be treated with respect and fairness regardless of age, disability or ethnicity.

School policies

All registered schools must have a policy on reducing ākonga | student distress and the use of restraint. All staff, parents, whānau | families and caregivers need to be clear on what is in it. The policy must include a process for managing complaints. It must be readily available to anyone in the school community.

Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa has a sample policy.

Minimising the use of physical restraint – Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa

Reporting incidents

You must report all incidents of physical restraint to us using the online portal. We use this to plan which schools need our support.

Every staff member who uses physical restraint must complete a staff physical restraint incident report. The employer must put a copy of the form in the student’s file. The student’s parents or caregivers must also be given a copy.

Schools can report incidents through either:

• Community portal
• Physical restraint incident reporting (use Chrome or Edge).

Training resources

Compulsory online module

Sometimes, careful contact to gently guide students is helpful. Other times, physical restraint may be needed to prevent students from imminent harm. The compulsory online module helps clarify the difference between appropriate physical contact and restraint.

The compulsory online module is available for anyone to access. It covers legislative questions and the difference between appropriate physical contact and restraint.

All registered kaiako | teachers must complete the online module. Supporting staff members who are part of a team supporting a student with restraint as part of their support plan must also complete the online module.

Physical Restraint: Understanding the Rules and Guidelines – Education LMS

Physical holds and releases training

Most staff do not need to do physical holds and releases training.

Teachers and any authorised supporting staff members working with a student who has restraint in their support plan must do both the online module and physical holds and releases training. This training accessed through your Te Mahau Office. Restraint is only used as a short-term measure while other supports are put in place.

Contact your Te Mahau office for more information.

Regional offices

Aramai He Tētēkura Minimising Physical Restraint learning resource

This new resource was launched in December 2024 and will help you understand distress and minimise physical restraint, recognise and respond to ākonga distress in mana-enhancing ways.

The consultation feedback shaped the content of this resource.

The overview document describes how to use the 4 modules with ākonga and why it is important to notice ākonga distress at the earliest stage and respond to this distress in mana-enhancing ways, rather than resort to using physical restraint which is a last resort.

The 4 modules cover:

• Module 1: Ngahere - Build a culture of care.
• Module 2: Mātaitia - Recognise.
• Module 3: Atawhaitia - Respond.
• Module 4: Whakawhenuatia - Restore.