No.
DfE’s current guidance says schools should not grant requests from parents — or from staff — to rule out reasonable force in advance, and should not operate a “no contact” policy at all. The reasoning is that a blanket promise leaves staff unable to step in when stepping in is the reasonable thing to do. It is advice, not law, but it is the current departmental position.
updated 18 Dec 2025last checked 14 Aug 2026
What the source actually says
“Schools should not have a ‘no contact’ policy. Additionally, schools should not grant any requests by parents or staff members not to use reasonable force and/or other restrictive interventions.”
— Restrictive interventions, including the use of reasonable force, in schools, DfE, effective from 1 April 2026, “Other physical contact with pupils”, p.7 DfE
The stated reason is the effect on staff, not on the school’s paperwork:
“The adoption of a ‘no contact’ policy at a school can leave staff unable to intervene where reasonable in the circumstances to fully protect pupils.”
— Restrictive interventions, including the use of reasonable force, in schools, DfE, effective from 1 April 2026, “Other physical contact with pupils”, p.7 DfE
And the guidance pushes the other way — towards permission, not prohibition:
“School leaders should adopt sensible policies which allow and support their staff to make appropriate physical contact.”
— Restrictive interventions, including the use of reasonable force, in schools, DfE, effective from 1 April 2026, “Other physical contact with pupils”, p.7 DfE
Note which document this is. The capture holds two: Use of reasonable force in schools, which was effective only until 31 March 2026, and the replacement guidance quoted above, in force from 1 April 2026. Everything on this card comes from the current one. The older document made some stronger statements on the same theme that the replacement does not repeat, so do not quote it as the current rule.
A parent’s view still matters — it is a reason to plan, to record and to talk to the family, and none of that is displaced by the fact that a veto is not available to them.
Your school may still require it
Your school can lawfully require you to take a particular approach with a particular pupil — a named de-escalation plan, calling for a specific colleague first — and that is a reasonable instruction, not a “no contact” policy.
See also Am I allowed to use reasonable force, or is that only for senior staff?, Can my school ban me from searching pupils or using reasonable force?, Do I have to be trained before I'm allowed to use reasonable force? and Does the school always have to tell parents force was used?.