Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to make an analysis of how domestic violence affects the development and education of children and how they can be supported by the educational system.

The school is often the institution that has the longest contact with the child and his family, and teachers can play a vital role in supporting them to access services for victims of domestic violence. Children are directly and indirectly affected by the violence that takes place in the environment in which they live with their family. Violence in children’s lives often causes disruption to their schooling and harms the quality of their educational experiences and outcomes.

The research is part of an extensive study which analyze the domestic violence phenomenon in Romania. The results show that 99,01% of respondents agreed that the domestic violence affect in a negative way the development of children.

Knowing when and how to seek advice from multi-agency professionals is an essential part of effective practice among school staff. Despite their vital role in identifying signs of abuse and signposting referral pathways, research indicates teachers often lack confidence and knowledge for such work. The article examines how the professional learning and professional confidence of teachers can be developed, and how recent policy and practice developments in Romania have the potential to influence work in this area.

Keywords:

Domestic violence, children, education, professionals.