MAIL ONLINE: Islamic schools are to be banned from smacking after a report warned that children were at risk of physical abuse.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls today acted to extend the ban on smacking to all who teach or care for children outside the family including leaders of Muslim madrassahs.
The move followed an investigation by Government adviser Sir Roger Singleton which found evidence youngsters in madrassahs were sometimes given physical punishments, including a 'clip round the ear' or the 'hen' position, where fingers are squeezed around a pencil.
'I do not think that there should be any scope to conceal reality by dissembling with words,' said Sir Roger, chief adviser on child safety.
'A "clip round the ear" could result in a damaging blow to a child's head.'
He went on: 'I was told of other physical punishments such as the "hen" position where fingers are laced with a pencil and squeezed.'
He also raised concerns about treatment of children in some fundamentalist Christian part-time schools, where biblical references to chastising youngsters are taken literally.
Existing laws outlaw smacking by teachers in schools. But those who tutor children outside school, in part-time educational settings and weekend and evening faith schools are not covered.
These include Britain's estimated 1,600 madrassahs. >>> Laura Clark | Tuesday, March 30, 2010
