Nursery World - Welsh childcare organisations have a role to play in supporting parents ahead of smacking ban

The ban on physical punishment cannot come soon enough for children in Wales, says Maggie Kelly of the Cwlwm childcare partnership

Maggie Kelly, Cwlwm representative and national development manager, Early Years Wales

Here in Wales we are entering a historic period which will see children’s rights further protected thanks to new Welsh Government legislation.

The Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 will remove an archaic legal defence by outlawing the physical punishment of children when it comes into force in Wales from 21 March 2022.

As a representative of Cwlwm, the partnership which brings together the five leading childcare organisations in Wales, we are committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for children and families across Wales.

While physical or any form of punishment is already prohibited in childcare and play settings, this legislation will help our sector and we look forward to being able to support parents around the new legislation through guidance and strategies to manage behavioural issues in more positive ways.

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