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We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button. This policy's subtopics are also under review if they have a review button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button. This policy's subtopics are also under review if they have a review button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button. This policy's subtopics are also under review if they have a review button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button. This policy's subtopics are also under review if they have a review button.
We are reviewing this policy for its content and how well the school implements it. To share your comments and rate its implementation, click the "Start your review" button. This policy's subtopics are also under review if they have a review button.
At St Andrew's College, we recognise that acceptable and appropriate physical contact contributes to student safety and wellbeing. In support of the National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP), we ensure that the school is a safe and inclusive place of learning for all students, and seek to recognise and respond to student needs.
We consider physical contact acceptable if:
the student is willing to receive physical contact
it is for the benefit of the student
it is limited to appropriate areas of the body.
Appropriate areas are generally considered the shoulders, arms, hands, and upper back. Exceptions to this may include professionally or medically prescribed positioning techniques.
We consider the benefit to students of using physical contact compared with non-physical interactions, such as using affirmative gestures or words, and make informed decisions about whether contact is appropriate to the situation. In making decisions about physical contact, staff also consider the background and needs of individual students. This includes the physical capabilities of the student and their cultural preferences.
Assessing the appropriateness of physical contact involves communicating to students that contact is available, and why it is being offered.
Staff may assess the appropriateness of any physical contact by asking the student a question, such as “You've done a great job, would you like a high-five?” or “I can see that you might like to turn around. Can I help you move your wheelchair?”.
We consider the capabilities of individual students to be able to respond to these questions, and may encourage students to use non-verbal indicators or assistive technology to initiate or accept offers of physical contact.
Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga: Aramai He Tētēkura (page 29)
Assessing if physical contact is acceptable
In circumstances where physical contact may be appropriate, staff look for signs that the student is willing to receive physical contact, such as an affirmative facial expression or movement toward the staff member.
We do not use physical contact if the student does not seem willing to receive physical contact (e.g. shaking their head or hesitating/retreating).
Purposes of acceptable physical contact
Physical contact may be used at St Andrew's College for the following purposes:
Developing skills (e.g. demonstrating a technique or safe way to perform a task during physical education).
Providing emotional support (e.g. to give reassurance, reduce distress, or acknowledge an achievement).
Supporting communication (e.g. physically guiding a student to turn on their communication device).
Providing help to students, particularly if it is part of their required medical or personal care. This may be for functional mobility and positioning, hygiene, nutrition, and/or safety. Assistance may also include using aids and equipment intended to safely move or transport students (e.g. hoists, transfer boards, and car seats).
Unacceptable physical contact
St Andrew's College is responsible for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, and does not allow unacceptable physical contact. We respond to incidents involving unacceptable physical contact using our concerns and complaints procedures, and report serious misconduct by teaching staff to the Teaching Council.
Contact may be considered unacceptable due to:
the type of physical contact (e.g. inappropriate contact areas, force, or physical discipline)
the motive for physical contact (e.g. contact for the physical or emotional benefit of a staff member)
the context or environment of physical contact.
Staff do not engage in any physical contact while alone with students in a space that is not accessible to other people (e.g. in a room with the door closed).
Responding to inappropriate physical contact from students
St Andrew's College staff enforce boundaries for physical contact where required, and use techniques such as redirection to promote appropriate interactions. We encourage staff to consider how non-physical interactions may be used, and how individual interactions affect other students in the learning environment.
We support staff to seek guidance from other colleagues and the rector if they are uncertain about the appropriateness of physical contact. We may consult parents/caregivers as necessary to support the safety and wellbeing of students.
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appropriate to the situation. In making decisions about physical contact, staff also consider the background and needs of individual students. This includes the physical capabilities of the student and their cultural preferences. 
