Nursery World - Welsh assembly to debate the bill to ban smacking

Welsh MPs will debate the anti-smacking bill today.

The Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill will be debated in the Senedd for the first time since its introduction in March.

The deputy minister for health and social services, Julie Morgan, will tell assembly members that smacking a child must be stopped.

The Bill builds on the Welsh Government’s commitment to children’s rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

If it is passed by the National Assembly for Wales, the Bill will mean that parents and other adults acting in a parental capacity will no longer be able to physically punish children.

It will give children the same protection from physical punishment as adults. The common law defence of reasonable punishment will be abolished so that any adult acting in a parental capacity cannot use it as a defence if accused of assault or battery against a child.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included