Dear Parents/ Carers,
Keeping you in the Loop. Focusing on children’s wellbeing
Following Circle time activities across the school, the issue of discipline has been discussed. This would be an opportune time to remind all parents of a change in the Law. As a Rights Respecting School and under Safeguarding guidance school has a duty to keep children safe.
Physical punishment is no longer allowed. Smacking is no longer allowed. Please work with us to focus on positive reinforcement strategies to develop emotional regulation and good behaviour.
Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020
What has changed?
•The Act came into force on 21 March 2022. It does not create a new criminal offence, but it abolishes a defence of “reasonable punishment” in the existing criminal offences of assault and battery against a child.
Physical punishment includes smacking, hitting, slapping, shaking or otherwise punishing a child using physical force.
•It has been illegal in schools, children’s homes, local authority foster care homes and childcare settings for some time. It is now illegal in the home environment.
Did you know:
The change means all physical punishment of children is now illegal in Wales, including by parents, carers and anyone acting in loco parentis in any setting in Wales. Guidance from Safeguarding training is that it should be reported directly to police on 101 or 999.