The purpose of a Temporary Restriction Order

TROs are used to protect the public, or in certain circumstances, the teacher themself, from risk. It is an interim protective order. Generally, interim orders within professional regulators are imposed for one or more of the following reasons:

• it is necessary for the protection of members of the public
• it is otherwise in the public interest
• it is in the interests of the teacher concerned (often this is seen in health cases to protect the registrant, however, please note that we cannot investigate the health of teachers as we do not have a legal remit to do so)

Where more than one of these grounds applies, a panel will need to assess each one and decide whether this has been met. The circumstances of each case will differ and a panel must consider each case on its own merits.

A TRO is intended to be a protective, not punitive, measure and should only be imposed when it is both proportionate and necessary in the particular circumstances. The role of a panel is one of risk assessment in that they require to consider what the risk would be (to public protection, the public interest and/or the interests of the teacher) in allowing the teacher to continue practising without restriction.