The concept of a Named Person for every child in Scotland is the “ultimate insult” to every loving parent, a senior academic has warned.
Dennis Hayes, Professor of Education at the University of Derby, said the scheme “sends the message that parents can’t be trusted to raise their own children”.
Under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, every child under the age of 18 in Scotland is set to be assigned a state-employed Named Person who will be able to share information with a wide range of public authorities.
Decisive battle
Prof Hayes noted that, as a result of this law, a “decisive battle” in the “war against parents” is about to take place.
“What this act does for the first time is to say to parents that a person appointed by the state has authority over them and their child”, he said.
“It is the ultimate insult to every loving mum and dad”, he added.
Legal challenge
The Christian Institute, alongside other groups and concerned parents, has launched a legal challenge against the scheme.
But Prof Hayes commented: “Even if it has no impact or is stopped in the courts the idea of a named person sends the message that parents can’t be trusted to raise their own children.
“By dreaming up this appalling idea, the very concept of parenting is being challenged”, he added.
Mindset
He warned parents everywhere, not just in Scotland, that people who “run the institutions of states, and many that work in them, think that parents are not fit to parent”.
Last month a controversial wellbeing survey linked to the Named Person scheme was paused following complaints from parents.
North Ayrshire Council suspended the ‘ChildrenCount’ surveys, which were carried out by researchers who knocked on residents’ doors and asked parents personal questions about their children.
Roadshow
The No to Named Persons campaign group is currently holding roadshow events, featuring a number of prominent speakers speaking out against the scheme.
The next meeting is on 1 October in Inverness.