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5.2.3
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(1) Rationale
[152]
that schools should be required, where an abused child moves from their
care, to make every effort to pass on records to the receiving school and
the receiving social services department;
that the local authority should ensure that the standing instructions to
principals have been effectively carried out;
that case conferences involving children of school age should always
include a teacher from each school attended by a child in the family;
that teachers should be acknowledged as an important element in the
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supportive network and should be kept thoroughly informed of the
progress of the action plan;
that specialist units offering support and therapy for abused children and
their families should keep the child's school informed as to the nature
and progress of the therapy.
Educational programmes
The researcher is of the opinion that educational programmes directed at school
children, parents, parents-to-be and professionals, are essential to the effective
management of child abuse. 1bis point of view is shared by teachers, legal
professionals, doctors and social workers.
The implementation of educational programmes is a long-term preventive strategy
which is aimed at the primary prevention of child abuse, that is, before it occurs and
at every segment of the community. The poorer section of the community in particular
must be reached, as it is generally known that they have larger families, which
inevitably strain their financial as well as coping resources.