We will not restrain a child in any way that is life-threatening, that restricts the child’s breathing, or that restricts blood flow to the child’s brain. We will not physically restrain a student when it is medically or psychologically contraindicated as stated in a document provided to us by the IEP team, school professional, or a licensed qualified medical professional.
Nova personnel authorized to implement restraint will be provided advanced training in the use of restraint. Advanced training shall focus on (i) appropriate use of effective alternatives to restraint or seclusion and (ii) the proper use of restraint, consistent with this policy. Nova personnel authorized to implement restraint will be trained and certified in a crisis intervention training program and subject to continuing recertification/training in such program.
Restraint is permitted only to prevent a student from imminently inflicting serious physical harm or injury to self or others. Unless a student’s damage to property creates an imminent risk of serious physical harm or injury to the student or others, the damage of property does not itself indicate or constitute an imminent risk of serious physical harm or injury and shall not justify the use of restraint.
Before using restraint, Nova personnel will attempt less restrictive interventions. Such interventions will be documented, and much be determined to be ineffective in stopping such imminent danger of serious physical injury. This is the policy unless other interventions are, or would be, deemed ineffective in the reasonable judgment of the particular school personnel implementing physical restraint or seclusion in an emergency situation (e.g., circumstances where if a less restrictive intervention were not immediately effective it could result in death or other serious physical injury such as if the student were running directly into a street with moving cars).
In cases where a life-threatening emergency situation is at risk of developing, but has not yet occurred, and when there is sufficient time, subject to the reasonable determination of Nova staff, staff must attempt less restrictive interventions before implementing physical restraint. If there are multiple incidents of restraint within the same classroom or by the same staff member, the Education Director shall take appropriate steps to address the frequency of use. Restraint shall be discontinued as soon as the imminent risk of serious physical harm or injury to self or others presented by the emergency situation has dissipated.
Nova staff will never require students to clean up bodily fluids or feces during or following an incident of restraint. If a student who uses sign language or an augmentative mode of communication as his or her primary mode of communication is restrained, the student shall be permitted to have his or her hands free of physical restraint, unless doing so is not feasible in view of the threat posed.
During the physical restraint, the least amount of force that is reasonable and necessary, with consideration of the respective weights of the individuals involved, will be used to protect the student or others from the threatened injury. When a restraint occurs, Nova will do everything it reasonably can do to notify verbally the parents of the student restrained on the day that the restraint occurs. The notification will include details of the behavior that led to the restraint
The Mission of Nova Day School is to enhance the lives of special needs students and their families by empowering them with skill development and self-assurance in an environment that is safe, appropriately challenging, and joyful.