How do we recognise and respond to sexual abuse in the Early Years?

What is sexual abuse? 

UK Government guidance and advice for practitioners, ‘What to do if you are worried a child is being abused’, provides a definition of sexual abuse. 

“Sexual abuse is any sexual activity with a child. You should be aware that many children and young people who are victims of sexual abuse do not recognise themselves as such. A child may not understand what is happening and may not even understand that it is wrong. Sexual abuse can have a long-term impact on mental health. Sexual abuse may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside clothing. It may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in the production of sexual images, forcing children to look at sexual images or watch sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet). 

Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.”

How to identify sexual abuse in young children

There are several signs that may raise concerns about possible sexual abuse in young children. Here are some indicators to consider:

• A child who is withdrawn and/or fearful.
• A child who displays inappropriate, sexualised conduct or behaviours with peers or through role play.
• The use of sexualised language.
• A child who is anxious about undressing during intimate care routines.
• Physical symptoms and injuries to the genital or anal area, bruising to the buttocks, abdomen and thighs.
• Urinary infections.
• Sexually transmitted disease.

What is intra-familial child sexual abuse?

The term intra-familial child sexual abuse refers to abuse that happens within the family environment. This can be abuse by:

• A family member, such as a parent, sibling or relative. 
• Those closely linked with, or considered ‘one of the family’, such as foster parents or a parent's partner. (The Centre for Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse: Intra-familial child sexual abuse | CSA Centre)

In 2024, the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel (which oversees the monitoring and publishing of case reviews where a child has died or experienced serious harm because of abuse or neglect in England), published a national review into intrafamilial child sexual abuse. Their decision to do so was based upon the ‘volume of incidents, and the severity and complexity of issues highlighted’ which they believed required ‘further exploration and analysis’. 

This comprehensive review, entitled “‘I wanted them all to notice.’ Protecting children and responding to child abuse in the family environment”, can be read in full here;  National review into child sexual abuse within the family environment - GOV.UK  

It noted some grim and indeed complex findings when speaking to children who had experienced child sexual abuse by a family member. Centred upon the importance of hearing children’s voices and understanding their needs, findings included some of the following aspects.

• There is an over-reliance by professionals upon children to tell someone about sexual abuse. This is further compounded by apprehension regarding initiating conversations with children when there are concerns about potential sexual abuse.
• Children are not always talked to or listened to, and often professionals were not hearing what children said or were saying to them.
• Children are not always believed.
• Race, ethnicity, culture or disability is not always taken into account or explored.

Sexual abuse perpetrated by people in positions of trust and who work with children.

Learning from case reviews where adults working with children have sexually abused them provides us with an understanding of:

• Where systemic safeguarding weaknesses in Early Years settings have failed children. 
• Recognising sexual predatory behaviours. 

Published case reviews, involving historic sexual abuse by nursery workers Vanessa George (2010) and Paul Wilson (2013), share common themes that are very much reflected in current headline news. In this article, I want to focus more on predatory behaviours rather than systemic weaknesses, but acknowledge that addressing both is necessary if we are to protect children.

How do I recognise predatory behaviours?

Behaviours noted in respect to George and Wilson that signified a determined and active intent to sexually abuse children. 

• Use of secluded areas:
  Both took advantage of secluded areas in the setting where abuse could take place without anyone seeing or knowing. They secured privacy and secrecy to abuse their victims.

• Manipulative behaviours:
  Both demonstrated manipulative behaviours with colleagues and particularly with nursery managers. In Wilson’s case, he also worked to build a relationship with the family of the child he abused.
• Friendly and personal relationships:
  Although staff in both nursery environments felt uneasy about the perpetrators' behaviour, management chose not to intervene or take corrective action. Perpetrators made sure that the challenge would be minimised by building personal and friendly relationships with leaders.
• Favouring a particular child:
  Wilson favoured one particular child; the child he abused and had formed a special relationship with.
• External sexual criminal activity
  Both had engaged in sexual criminal activity outside of the setting with respect to child abuse. George shared online images of abuse with paedophiles, and Wilson was alleged to have abused a thirteen-year-old girl online.

Stronger emphasis upon safer recruitment and whistleblowing, for example, is a welcome development in the Early Years. However, it is important for leaders, managers and the wider workforce to understand predatory behaviours as indicators of abuse so that they can to respond to them.  

Taking action to protect a child from sexual abuse

1. Protect

Child protection, in the context of sexual abuse, pertains to taking actions to protect children who have either experienced or who are at risk of significant harm. A range of active strategies must therefore be applied.

• Child Protection policies and procedures must comply with statutory requirements and local safeguarding partners in England, or equivalent social services and local authority arrangements elsewhere. Policies must be fit for purpose and are only effective when they are clearly implemented and consistently applied.

• A culture of safeguarding must facilitate any practice that leads to the protection of children. Without a strong and effective culture, policies and procedures provide nothing more than a narrative of intentions rather than an expectation of what will happen next if a child is placed at risk. Policies don’t protect children; however, decisive actions to prevent harm and to stop abuse do. It is essential to cultivate both a proactive and preventative safeguarding culture within Early Years settings.

• Professional curiosity as a ‘mindset’ and ‘communication skill’ should be understood, applied and practised by everyone working in the setting, including those in the wider organisation where relevant. Practitioners should always take the view that abuse could happen, whether this be by family members or those in the life of a child, including those in positions of trust and who work with them. Adopting a stance of respectful uncertainty—often described as professional curiosity—should be the universal standard when addressing child abuse.

Responding to child sexual abuse in the Early Years

2. Report

Reporting concerns regarding child sexual abuse requires an understanding of the appropriate individuals to contact and the correct procedures to follow.

• Statutory services such as children’s services, social care, or the Police will be informed. In the case of an emergency, the Police would be contacted directly. Social care teams usually offer ways to consult or seek advice if professionals are unsure about making a referral for a child or young person.
• The Local Authority Designated Officer – the LADO (England and Wales or equivalent in other UK countries), must be told of allegations of sexual abuse made in respect to people who are in positions of trust.

Whistleblowing support for professionals who feel that child protection issues are not being handled correctly in their workplace is available from the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line  Whistleblowing Advice Line | NSPCC or by calling 0800 028 0285.

Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse

Following Baroness Jay’s recommendation in the Independent Investigation of Child Sexual Abuse, mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse was proposed. The longstanding debate concerning the necessity and consequences of mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse is expected to reach a conclusion very soon. 

Measures in the Crime and Policy Bill, Crime and Policing Bill: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse recommendations - GOV.UK is currently working its way through Parliament will place mandatory requirements upon those in regulated work with children to report known child sexual abuse. Failure to report abuse of which they are made aware will result in referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service, with the potential of them being barred from working with children.

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Rachel Buckler is a trainer, consultant and author specialising in safeguarding and child protection in the early years.