Nursery World - A blow to rights

I applaud the comments made by Baroness Walmsley in her role of NSPCC Parliamentary ambassador (Letters, 3 January). She notes 'how absurd it is that childminders are being allowed to hit the children with written parental permission - but only in England' and she also points out that last November the Government refused to do away with the archaic legal defence of 'reasonable chastisement'. Registered childminders will continue to challenge this discriminatory treatment of childminding compared with other settings. As the largest provider of childcare for children aged nought to 14, we are committed professionals who, in partnership with parents, can and do manage children's behaviour positively without the need for chastisements of any kind.

Registered childminders will continue to challenge this discriminatory treatment of childminding compared with other settings. As the largest provider of childcare for children aged nought to 14, we are committed professionals who, in partnership with parents, can and do manage children's behaviour positively without the need for chastisements of any kind.

Since the Human Rights Act 2000, children have basic rights in their own capacity. One of these includes protecting them from chastisement or any form of degrading treatment. If it were my child or any of the children I have had the pleasure of working with, no amount of permission, guidance or legal loopholes would ever make it acceptable for anyone taking a chance on leaving just one child susceptible to any form of abuse.

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