Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has taken a number of steps to raise awareness of the 2019 Act. These steps include:

• Arranging for information to be included in Ready Steady Baby: https://www.nhsinform.scot/ready-steady-baby/early-parenthood/caring-for-your-new-baby/crying ;
• A circular issued in May 2020: https://www.gov.scot/publications/children-equal-protection-from-assault-scotland-act-2019-may-2020-circular/ The Scottish Government issued a further letter, which is being published, on 9 October 2020;
• Information on changes to the law: https://www.gov.scot/publications/physical-punishment-and-discipline-of-children-how-the-law-is-changing/ ;
• Information on mygov.scot: https://www.mygov.scot/smacking-children/ (Mygov.scot gives people and businesses information about and access to public services in Scotland);
• An easy read leaflet on the Act, being published on the Scottish Government website;
• The production of materials (posters and Q&As) about the Act for children and young people;
• The production of materials (factsheet and Q&As) about the Act aimed at adults with a focus on parents’ and carers’ needs.

The Scottish Government is also preparing information for the day (7 November 2020) when the Act comes fully into effect.

ParentClub provides information on coping with being a parent: https://www.parentclub.scot/articles/coping-with-being-a-parent A specific page on the 2019 Act is being prepared for ParentClub.

The Scottish Government has written to bodies such as local authorities and health boards to provide information on the 2019 Act coming fully into force.

The Scottish Government formed an Implementation Group on work needed to implement the Act. Information on the Implementation Group is at https://www.gov.scot/groups/children-equal-protection-from-assault-scotland-act-implementation-group/

The Scottish Government will continue to raise awareness of the legislation and of the benefits of positive parenting.