LABOUR’S new legislation on safeguarding children will not include a smacking ban, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson confirmed today.

Speaking as she unveiled the new legislation in Commons, Ms Phillipson ruled out a ban on parents smacking their children in England.

The act is already outlawed in Scotland and Wales and a ban was a commitment made by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer when in opposition.

The new legislation will however tighten up on home schooling in the wake of the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif by her parents and will also allow the government to maintain registers to track children not in school.

Parents will no longer have an automatic right to educate their children at home if their child is subject to a child protection investigation and councils will have new powers to intervene and require school attendance.

Ms Phillipson said: “Too many children have been failed by the state in recent years, it is clear that action is required.

“Today we set out our plans to make sure that those agencies are working together and that we have much greater visibility of where children are and what they’re experiencing in their lives.”

Unions broadly welcomed the plans. National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede said: “This is a significant, decisive Bill with an exciting set of announcements. It’s got ambition but also action.

“The NEU thinks this Bill will make a meaningful difference to the lives of staff and children.

“It shows a Secretary of State with a real breadth of vision and determination to get the system working together better, through collaboration and co-operation, in the interest of every child in a local area.”

Mr Kebede also backed the ending of the requirement that all new schools be academies and pledged to continue to push the government for increased investment in education.

Patrick Roach, general secretary of teachers’ union NASUWT, said: “This new legislation will mark a major step change in protecting the rights of all children.

“When any child is left at risk of abuse and neglect, every child is at risk. For too long, previous governments have failed to protect the most vulnerable children. That situation has to change. 

“NASUWT has called for a new deal for children and young people and today’s legislation will be a step forward in delivering that new deal.”