In 2025, it cannot be right that children, the youngest and most vulnerable group in society, are the
least protected from physical assault.
Leading organisations working in child health, child protection and safeguarding, human rights,
mental health, youth advocacy, social care and more have jointly developed this briefing for
parliamentarians to support our shared call to remove the “reasonable punishment” defence from
law in England.
We call on MPs to support our campaign to give children in England equal protection from
assault as part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Key messages
• Evidence shows that the physical punishment of children is harmful.
• Despite this, physical punishment remains lawful by virtue of the ‘reasonable punishment’
defence – an exception to the law of assault. This leaves children with less protection from
assault than adults.
• The law as it stands is unclear and open to interpretation, with this ambiguity a feature of
safeguarding practice reviews.
• To achieve its intention to ‘make provision about the safeguarding and welfare of children’, MPs
have sought to amend the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to remove the ‘reasonable
punishment’ defence and are now encouraging wider MP support before the Bill is debated at
Report Stage.
• This would give children equal protection from assault, to protect them from harm and to
promote their health and wellbeing.
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Reduce inequality within and among countries
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
