Child protection

In this article:

• Spotting an abuser
• Safeguarding
• Types of abuse
• Case study

Everyone is familiar with the upsetting and worrying stories of child abuse in Early Years settings that have been recently reported in the media. Although these developments have caused us all to be extra vigilant with consideration to those entrusted with the care of our children, and rightly so, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that such cases of child abuse in preschool settings are extremely rare.

Child abuse; the term used when an adult harms a child or young person under the age of eighteen, is not only about physical or sexual harm; persistent belittling can erode a child’s self-esteem and confidence, leaving deep emotional scars that are hard to heal and, in many cases, last well into adulthood, too.