Teachers are going to be better equipped and resourced to deal with child abuse situations.

This comes in light of a survey carried out by the NSPCC and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) which revealed that one in four teachers has been asked for help by pupils in relation to child abuse. 

Over two-fifths (42 per cent) of those in teaching jobs said that they had suspected that a pupil was in an abusive relationship of some kind. However, 43 per cent said they felt ill-equipped to handle such a situation if it were to arise. Nearly one-third (29 per cent) of teachers said they had been concerned about the issue of child abuse on more than one occasion. 

Fewer than one in ten schools (eight per cent) had a specific policy on relationship abuse. 

In direct response to these statistics, the NSPCC and ATL have produced resources to help schools tackle this problem more efficiently, including a template guide for a policy on relationship abuse. 

Peter Wanless, the CEO of NSPCC, said: "Young people experiencing abuse in their relationship are turning to teachers for help. It is crucial that teachers are given the support they need to help students deal with this."

The resources available to teachers also include practical advice on how teachers can help pupils who approach them for help. They also inform teachers of potential warning signs that a pupil may be in an abusive relationship, and the appropriate action that teachers can take. 

Mr Wanless reminded teachers that they can contact the NSPCC at any point for advice with their trained practitioners. 

Dr Mary Bousted, the general secretary of ATL, said: "We know the risks inherent in abusive relationships and the patterns they can create. These resources will help education staff and those leading schools and colleges to support young people and break this vicious cycle."

As someone looking for a job as a teacher, would you feel prepared to deal with a case of child abuse?