Nursery World - Physical punishment

A new law on the physical punishment of children that came into force on 14 January still faces criticism by anti-smacking campaigners. The 'reasonable punishment' law states that hitting a child is legal, as long as it does not cause injury amounting to anything more than transient reddening of the skin. The NSPCC has called on the Government to make clear how it intends to monitor the use of the law in relation to prosecutions and convictions. NSPCC chief executive Mary Marsh said, 'This new law is flawed. Defining acceptable ways to hit children should become a thing of the past. The Government should also be educating and supporting parents in positive parenting and endorse the message that hitting children is wrong.'

NSPCC chief executive Mary Marsh said, 'This new law is flawed. Defining acceptable ways to hit children should become a thing of the past. The Government should also be educating and supporting parents in positive parenting and endorse the message that hitting children is wrong.'

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