Nursery World - England snubs Scots lead on smacking

Westminster has rejected the precedent set by the Scottish Executive's decision to ban physical punishment of children aged under three and has decided to make no moves to change the law on smacking in England and Wales. The Department of Health in London announced last week that it did not believe there was public support for changing the law on corporal punishment and said the introduction of the Humans Rights Act in October 2000 gave children in England and Wales sufficient legal protection. This followed analysis of responses to a consultation that attracted submissions from a number of children's health and education organisations, calling for children to have the same protection in law as adults from physical assault.

The Department of Health in London announced last week that it did not believe there was public support for changing the law on corporal punishment and said the introduction of the Humans Rights Act in October 2000 gave children in England and Wales sufficient legal protection. This followed analysis of responses to a consultation that attracted submissions from a number of children's health and education organisations, calling for children to have the same protection in law as adults from physical assault.

Susan Elsley, assistant director of Save the Children in Scotland, described the decision as 'a terrible lost opportunity'. She said, 'Scotland has led the way, and we are deeply disappointed that the same steps forward have not been made in England and Wales. This sends out confusing messages to parents, who, in theory, could smack toddlers when they cross the Border but not before. Children should be safe wherever they live in the UK.'

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