Alison O'Brien
There are few worse experiences for an educational professional than suspecting a child is being mistreated, but feeling unsure how to intervene. Teachers and nursery workers are often in a position to spot the first signs of neglect or abuse - bruises, aggression, changed behaviour, emotional withdrawal, or (in some cases of sexual abuse) the opposite of withdrawal, a kind of excessive demonstrativeness. It takes skill to evaluate these symptoms, but initial teacher training provides little guidance in this important but sensitive area.
"This leaves teachers and pupils in a frightening situation," says Alison O'Brien, education officer at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. "Teachers are in a huge position of power and responsibility. They need to be informed."
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