§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that both initial and in-service training enables teachers both to recognise cases of child abuse among their pupils and to take the action necessary to protect children at risk.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe criteria which now govern all courses of initial teacher training require, inter alia, that the courses should prepare students for their pastoral responsibilities as teachers. Local education authorities are responsible for ensuring that their schools have adequate arrangements to identify children at risk and that their teachers are aware of these arrangements. A range of training acitivities to promote awareness of how to identify and deal with child abuse is promoted by local authorities and is available to school staff. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services is currently reviewing his procedural guidance on child abuse and will be issuing a consultation paper shortly which will include recommendations on training.