Don't Touch!: The Educational Story of a Panic

This is the first book in the UK to explore the problems involved in 'touching' children in an educational environment, the book uses real-life examples taken from Heather Piper's ground-breaking research into the mentality of today's risk culture, and highlights a maddening state of affairs in which ordinary well-meaning professionals feel they cannot offer even very young children with basic levels comforting or affection.

This fascinating and long-overdue book examines the 'no-touch' pandemic in early years settings, primary and secondary schools today making use of extensive interviews with practitioners, parents and pupils alike, which:

• outline the general confusion experienced by many in knowing if, when and how to touch and the more recent backlash by some who attempted to buck the trend
• suggest why this issue is important now (for example, at a time when men are being encouraged to work in early years settings)
• consider explanations such as panic, risk, society and fear.

This book also examines and explains where the law stands on these issues, and keeps its key focus on practice throughout; representing an unsensationalized and sensible approach to an issue that is the source to so much professional anxiety, and will be welcomed by the entire teaching profession.

Heather Piper is Senior Research Fellow in the Education and Social Research Institute of Manchester Metropolitan University.

Ian Stronach is Research Professor of Education in the Education and Social Research Institute of Manchester Metropolitan University.