Nursery World - Hands off?

When is a practitioner justified in restraining a child physically - or is it open to interpretation? Christine Betts looks at the law In January, Nursery World reported the story of a nursery owner facing a charge of common assault after intervening to stop a toddler hitting a baby over the head with a wooden brick.

In January, Nursery World reported the story of a nursery owner facing a charge of common assault after intervening to stop a toddler hitting a baby over the head with a wooden brick.

The incident was witnessed and later reported by two Northamptonshire County Council officials who were visiting the nursery at the time.

However, the nursery owner said there was 'nothing unusual' in the way she had dealt with the toddler and described the incident as an 'everyday occurrence' (See Nursery World, 5 January 2006, page 4).

Many people working with small children must have paused in concern at this story. Surely, we sometimes need to use some form of physical force when dealing with dangerous behaviour? Does the law allow teachers and carers to use force or physical contact at all?

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