Charities and the Children’s Commissioner for England are calling for smacking to be criminalised in England following the move in Scotland to ban the form of discipline.
Last week, Scotland became the first country in the UK to approve new legislation which will mean parents face criminal charges if they are found guilty of smacking their children.
Scotland joins 57 other countries across the world where physical punishment of children is illegal, including Ireland, which banned smacking in 2015. Wales is due to follow in Scotland’s footsteps.
In England and Northern Ireland, where parents are allowed to use ‘reasonable chastisement’, there are no plans to criminalise smacking.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here