Nursery World - Amendment 'will confuse parents'

Campaigners for a complete ban on smacking have warned that last week's Commons vote to allow parents to physically chastise children as long as they do not leave a mark is unworkable, confusing and likely to lead to more parents being prosecuted. The Commons rejected the call from children's charities and a range of professional organisations to abolish the 'reasonable chastisement'

The Commons rejected the call from children's charities and a range of professional organisations to abolish the 'reasonable chastisement'

provision which denies children the same legal protection afforded to adults. MPs voted instead for an amendment to the Children Bill defining an acceptable level of physical punishment of children.

NSPCC director Mary Marsh said, 'Bad legal reform is worse than no legal reform, and that is what these proposals amount to. Violence towards children is still legally acceptable as long as you are careful not to leave a mark. The law needs to send out a clear message that it is just as wrong to hit a child as it is to hit an adult.'

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