I believe that any form of violence towards a child is completely unacceptable and there are clear laws in place to prevent it.
The Children Act 2004 says it is unlawful to assault a child causing actual or grievous bodily harm, or cruelty. On top of the legislation, I urge ministers in the Department for Education to continue supporting teachers, social workers and all safeguarding professionals to spot the signs of abuse or neglect more quickly.
I am confident that the statutory framework for safeguarding children in England makes clear what organisations should do to keep children safe.
