Equal Protection (EP) Statement

From 7 November 2020, it became illegal to physically punish a child. This applies to everyone over the age of 16 in charge of a child.  Physical punishment can mean different things like:

•   Smacking

•   Skelping

•   Hitting

•   Slapping

We know you want to do what is best for your child and you might be unsure about what this new law means for you. This doesn’t mean you can’t take your child away from danger or stop them from getting hurt. Like if they reach for a boiling kettle or try to run across the road. This change is just about making sure that children are protected in the same way as adults are.

All staff have a responsibility to report these incidents or disclosures to the head teacher who then may contact parents / carers to discuss the matter. If the head teacher, or the person deputising for the head teacher is of the view that there may be grounds for concern, they will seek advice from the appropriate agency e.g. Police Scotland and/or duty social work. They will also signpost parents who require support to appropriate agencies and partners.

You can find out more about this new law on the Scottish Government website by clicking on the link below: