Social care leaders join call for England to end physical punishment of children

A coalition of nearly 300 organisations and public figures – including senior figures in social care, health and education – has signed an open letter urging Sir Keir Starmer to remove the “outdated and damaging” legal defence of reasonable punishment. The letter, coordinated by the NSPCC, argues that the government must bring England into line with Wales and Scotland, where physical punishment of children is already banned.

The appeal comes amid a 40% increase in contacts to the NSPCC Helpline from adults concerned about the physical punishment of children over the past six months. Practitioners handled 262 such contacts between April and September 2025, compared with 184 during the same period in 2024.

Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the NSPCC, said: “With over 65 countries, including Wales and Scotland, already having legislated to protect children from physical punishment, how much longer can England justify waiting?

“The evidence is crystal clear — physical punishment is harmful, ineffective, and damages the trust and wellbeing at the heart of family relationships. The Prime Minister has previously called for England to follow Wales’s lead and remove the outdated defence of ‘reasonable punishment’. Now is his time to act.”

Children’s social care leaders say the current law creates unnecessary ambiguity for practitioners and families alike, making it harder to deliver consistent messages about positive parenting and safeguarding thresholds.

Many argue that a clear legal position – banning all forms of physical punishment – would help practitioners intervene earlier, strengthen multi-agency work, and reduce the normalisation of violence in family settings.

Professor Andrew Rowland, Consultant Paediatrician and RCPCH Officer for Child Protection, said: “As a paediatrician working in child protection services, I am keenly aware of the lasting harm physical punishment causes to children’s health and development. It not only increases the risk of poor mental health, physical injury, and behavioural problems, it undermines children’s overall wellbeing.

“RCPCH stands firmly with health professionals and organisations working with children and families in recognising that physical punishment is outdated and unjust. We urge the Government to listen to parents, young people, health professionals and the wider public, and to finally remove the outdated and unfair ‘reasonable punishment’ defence.”

Research consistently shows that physical punishment is associated with higher risks of anxiety, aggression and lower self-esteem in children. It can also escalate into abuse and complicate assessments for early help and child protection teams, where practitioners must balance supporting parents with ensuring children’s safety.

The call comes as the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill progresses through Parliament – a legislative vehicle that could be used to extend the protections already in place in other UK nations.

Lynn Perry, Chief Executive of Barnardo’s, said the legal gap leaves children without the same protection as adults.

“Violence against children is unacceptable. So how can it be right that the law continues to leave children without the same protection as adults?

“At Barnardo’s, we see how important it is for children to develop positive, healthy relationships with the adults around them, and how vital it is for them to feel safe.

“We have a pivotal opportunity now to finally legislate for the change children need and deserve. We’re proud to stand alongside so many leading voices to say it is time for every child to be legally protected from physical punishment.”

For social workers and early help teams, campaigners say a ban would bring much-needed clarity and align safeguarding frameworks across the UK. In Wales, where physical punishment was outlawed in 2022, children’s services leaders report improved consistency in messaging to parents and clearer thresholds for intervention.