Ofsted updated physical intervention guidance

This is guidance for childminders in England. References to the EYFS are linked to the childminder version.

Ofsted has updated its physical intervention guidance on using restraint and restrictive practices for schools, social care, early years providers (including childminders) and inspectors (03.11.2026). The guidance is called 'Positive environments where children can flourish'.

The update references the new Department for Education (DfE) guidance on restraint and restrictive practices in schools (04.2026). It is not an announcement of a new set of early years restraint rules. It is about Ofsted's approach to inspection, rather than a replacement for the EYFS statutory framework. The underlying principles are relevant to all types of settings and inspections including early years and childminders.

What you need to know

The key messages are that inspectors want to see children being supported through positive relationships, enabling environments, an understanding of their needs and interventions to prevent distress, rather than relying on physical intervention or restrictive practices.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for childminders states in paragraph 3.74,

'Childminders must not give or threaten corporal punishment or any punishment which could negatively affect a child's well-being.'

3.74 goes on to state, 'A person will not be considered to have used corporal punishment (and therefore will not have committed an offence), if physical intervention (40) was taken to avert immediate danger of personal injury to any person (including the child) or to manage a child's behaviour if absolutely necessary.'

Footnote 40 defines physical intervention, 'Physical intervention is where practitioners use reasonable force to prevent children from injuring themselves or others or damaging property.'

The updated Ofsted guidance on physical intervention is consistent with Ofsted's emphasis on necessity, proportionality and protecting children's wellbeing. For example, the Ofsted guidance states that, 'Restraint that deliberately inflicts pain should never be used' and separately that, 'It is always illegal to use force as a punishment.'

The main points

The key parts of the updated guidance that childminders need to understand include:

Children's behaviour is communication

Childminders should try to understand why a child is behaving in a particular way - for example, considering whether the child is tired, hungry, overwhelmed, frustrated, anxious or struggling to communicate. Childminders should also take account of the child's age, stage of development, individual needs and any special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and whether past experiences or trauma might be influencing behaviour.

What this means in practice: rather than simply trying to stop unwanted behaviour, childminders should consider what the child is communicating and what support they need. This aligns with the EYFS requirement in paragraph 3.73, 'Childminders are responsible for supporting, understanding, and managing children's behaviour in an appropriate way.'

Positive relationships are the foundation

Ofsted expects childminders to create an environment built on trust and respect and warm, consistent relationships and this is what they are looking for during inspection. The inspector will expect the key person and everyone interacting with the child to understand them and their vulnerabilities, to support their emotional wellbeing and to help them learn to recognise and manage their feelings. Ofsted believes that understanding a child's triggers will help to prevent situations from escalating.

What this means in practice: this is particularly important for vulnerable children, babies and younger children who might not yet have the language to express their needs.

Also see the Ofsted Early years inspection toolkit - personal, social and emotional development (PSED) curriculum overview.

Physical intervention and restraint

The guidance makes it clear that physical restraint:

• Can negatively affect a child's mental health.

• Can damage relationships between children and their parents or carers.

• Should never be used routinely.

• Must only be used when necessary to keep children or others safe.

• Must be proportionate to the risk.

• Must be for the shortest possible time.

For example, physically stopping a child running into a road to prevent serious injury would be an appropriate protective intervention which must be recorded and reported to parents, to protect the child and the childminder involved. However, physical intervention should not be used simply because a child is being difficult, refusing to cooperate, having a tantrum or not following instructions.

What this means in practice: Ofsted is not introducing a no-touch policy - normal, appropriate physical contact, comfort, reassurance and reasonable actions to protect children remain appropriate.

Time-out, separation and calm-down spaces

Ofsted will question practices where children are, for example, sent away or isolated as a punishment, left alone for extended periods because of their behaviour, prevented from leaving a room or designated space and / or made to feel that they cannot leave, even if the door is not locked.

A quiet or calm space can be appropriate if a child chooses to use it or benefits from having somewhere quieter to regulate their emotions. That would usually be recorded as an accommodation in their child safeguarding file or as part of their graduated approach plan. The space must not become a punishment, children should not be forced into isolation - any approach should be sensitive to the individual child's needs.

What this means in practice: the guidance makes clear that, 'long-term isolation and segregation are never acceptable' for children. You should consider whether the child needs reassurance and adult support.

Restricting children's movement and independence

Inspectors will look at whether any physical intervention used was necessary and proportionate. Examples relevant to early years settings include:

• Using safety equipment or harnesses to restrict a child's movement.

• Preventing children from accessing areas without a clear safety reason.

• Using physical intervention to make children comply with routines.

• Restricting children's choices unnecessarily.

• Using blanket rules rather than considering individual children's needs.

Ofsted states that, 'safe space beds, a wheelchair, reins or a safety harness, or a seatbelt' would make an inspector curious. This does not mean that childminders cannot use safety gates, cots, highchairs or other appropriate safety equipment when they are putting steps in place to keep a child safe - but it could mean that inspectors will be curious about their use and childminders should be able to explain why equipment or restrictions are needed, how they are used safely and whether there is a less restrictive alternative.

What this means in practice: the emphasis is on enabling children to explore, develop independence and take appropriate risks - while keeping them safe, rather than creating an unnecessarily restrictive environment.

Particular attention to SEND and individual needs

Ofsted expects childminders to understand how a child's individual needs affect their behaviour. This includes, for example, children with communication difficulties, sensory needs, neurodiversity, developmental differences, disabilities and additional needs and / or previous experiences and possible trauma. Childminders must recognise that a strategy that works for one child might not work for another.

Where a child regularly becomes distressed or behaviour escalates, childminders should consider individual strategies and seek specialist advice where appropriate.

What this means in practice: for children with additional needs, it is especially important to understand how the child communicates discomfort, distress and their wishes. This would usually be recorded in the child's personal documentation, so the childminder and any assistants know how to keep them safe.

What happens following an incident?

Where physical intervention has been used, Ofsted are likely to want to understand:

• Why was intervention necessary? What was the immediate risk?

• What other strategies were tried or considered?

• Was the intervention proportionate and as brief as possible?

• How did the child respond? - for example, was the child distressed or injured?

• Was the incident recorded immediately and were parents informed?

• Has the incident been reviewed to evaluate what can be changed to reduce the likelihood of it happening again?

Inspectors will be interested in whether childminders identify patterns and use incidents to improve their practice. For example, if a child repeatedly becomes distressed during transitions, the answer should not simply be to keep intervening physically. Childminders should investigate the reasons and adapt the environment, routine or support.

What this means in practice: the updated Ofsted physical intervention guidance discusses specific recording and reporting requirements for schools and children's homes. Childminders must continue to follow the EYFS requirements which state in paragraph 3.75 that, 'Childminders must keep a record of any occasion where physical intervention is used, and parents and/or carers must be informed on the same day, or as soon as reasonably practicable.'

Note that concerns about a child's safety or welfare means childminders must notify children's social care (EYFS paragraph 3.10).

Next steps

What do you need to do now? I would recommend using this update as an opportunity to review the following practices in your early years setting:

• Review the Behaviour Policy to ensure it reflects positive, supportive approaches.

• Check that any assistants or co-childminders understand that behaviour is communication.

• Review how you identify and respond to children's triggers and signs of distress.

• Ensure physical intervention is only used when necessary to protect safety and is proportionate.

• Check that any assistants or co-childminders understand what is meant by appropriate and inappropriate restraint and that physical intervention must never be used as punishment.

• Review your whole-setting approach to time-out and time in strategies and the use of quiet spaces or separating children from the group.

• Check safety equipment is used appropriately and does not unnecessarily restrict independence.

• Ensure physical intervention incidents are recorded following reporting requirements in the EYFS / your policies.

• Review incidents that occur and identify any patterns or changes needed to prevent recurrence.

• Ensure parents are informed and involved where concerns arise.

• Consider whether to schedule further training - for example, related to emotional regulation.

What might an Ofsted inspector ask?

Some questions childminders can prepare for prior to inspection include:

• How do you understand what a child's behaviour is communicating?

• How do you support a child who becomes distressed or dysregulated?

• What strategies do you use to prevent behaviour escalating?

• How do you ensure children with SEND have their individual needs understood?

• Why is that child sitting on their own - how have you tried to support them?

• In what circumstances would you physically intervene to protect a child?

• How do you ensure physical intervention is used proportionately / appropriately?

• How do you reflect on physical intervention and / or behaviour incidents and adapt your practice?

• Give me examples of how you promote children's independence, choices and emotional wellbeing.

Reflection point: think about what you have learned from a physical restraint incident. If incidents occur, inspectors want to see that childminders learn from them, understand the child's experience and make changes where necessary.

During inspection, Ofsted want to check that your everyday practice follows your written policies and information sharing with parents and reflects a positive, child-centred approach. Ofsted has confirmed that there is no automatic inspection outcome attached to any of these matters. However, if there is evidence that a child is inappropriately restrained the inspector will investigate further and there might be links through inspection outcomes.