Nursery World - Parents smacking ban is welcomed

Proposals in Scotland to give children legal protection against being smacked by their parents have been welcomed by campaigning groups. The plans include a total ban on blows to the head, shaking and the use of 'implements' such as slippers; a ban on physical punishment of children under three; a ban on corporal punishment in childcare centres, in childminders' homes and in non-publicly-funded pre-schools; and the setting out in statute of the factors courts must take into account when determining whether punishment was 'reasonable'. But parents will still be allowed to set the ground rules for discipline in the home, which will cover babysitters and nannies.

The plans include a total ban on blows to the head, shaking and the use of 'implements' such as slippers; a ban on physical punishment of children under three; a ban on corporal punishment in childcare centres, in childminders' homes and in non-publicly-funded pre-schools; and the setting out in statute of the factors courts must take into account when determining whether punishment was 'reasonable'. But parents will still be allowed to set the ground rules for discipline in the home, which will cover babysitters and nannies.

Outlining the measures to the Scottish Executive last week, deputy first minister and justice minister Jim Wallace said the proposal to ban the smacking of children under three was because 'up to this age, it is doubtful that a child would understand why he or she was being punished and if the child was in any imminent danger it should be possible for an adult to restrain or remove the child from danger rather than punish them'.

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