Around one in five children in the UK experience domestic abuse during their childhood. According to charity Safe Lives, by the time they start school, at least one child in every class will have been living with domestic abuse since they were born.
Recent research tells us that children who experience domestic abuse before the age of five years of age are more likely to experience negative outcomes than older children. This means that they require targeted help and support due to the profound impact it can have on their wellbeing and development at a crucial developmental stage.
It is therefore essential that people working with babies, young children and their families are able to spot potential signs that a child is experiencing, or has experienced, domestic abuse, and that they also know how to respond appropriately.
The toolkit explores:
- What domestic abuse is
- How domestic abuse impacts children
- How early educators can support children who may be impacted by domestic abuse
- How early educators can support families (including signposting)
This comprehensive resource contains a range of practical resources and materials to help staff in your setting gain the skills and knowledge to ensure families experiencing domestic abuse get the support they need, when they need it.