Many practitioners were clear that "the child's emotional wellbeing andneed for comfort has been forgotten" or sidelined due to fear ofaccusations of breaching "good practice" guidance on childprotection.
Where staff are "allowed" to comfort children they are often required toadopt bizarre postures and contortions to avoid "too much" contact andensure that a child is not left alone with, or out of the sight of,another adult. The problem affects staff working across all children'sservices: nurseries; schools; adventure playgrounds; and out-of-schoolprovision.
Men say they are particularly advised not to have physical contact withchildren or to look after children unless accompanied by another adult.This raises questions about the messages we are giving to children, letalone the implications for Government's attempt to attract more men intothe childcare sector.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
