Parents and teachers outraged at graphic sex abuse leaflet aimed at eight-year-olds

The guide, produced by the charity ChildLine, a branch of the NSPCC, tells youngsters what sexual abuse is and includes a quiz asking them to identify situations that constitute abuse.

In one chapter, children are asked to spot the abuse situation out of three scenarios. A goodnight cuddle from mum and a trip to the doctor are the first two options.

The third states: 'Your uncle promises you a new MP3 player if you take your knickers off and sit on his lap.'

Scenarios: The booklet contains graphic information about how to spot sexual abuse

The 20-page illustrated booklet, entitled In The Know and looking at all kinds of child abuse, was handed out to Year 3 pupils at Thomas A Becket School, in Worthing, West Sussex, on the last day before half-term.

But after complaints from parents, the school was forced to recall it.

The local education authority has admitted the literature, aimed at an age group of eight to 11, should have been checked more thoroughly.

Parents meanwhile said the material was 'totally wrong'.

Father-of-two Michael Auty, 37, said the book could do more harm than good.

'I think it's totally wrong for this to be aimed even at 11-year-olds. It's putting ideas in their heads.

'I don't want my kids to look at their uncles and think, "He might try and do something to me." It would harm the family.

'It's up to parents to explain to kids what they should do if they find themselves in a particular situation but the language in this booklet is just too graphic.'

Quiz: The guide tells young children what sexual abuse is and includes a quiz asking them to identify situations that constitute abuse

Fellow parent Jeanette Seba, 32, who has an 8-year-old daughter, said: 'I obviously worry about her, but I don't think it's up to anyone but me and maybe her teachers to decide how to approach the subject.

'Just feeding all kids this information is asking for trouble. It makes all adults look sinister.'

Another parent, who did not want to be named, said that the message was reasonable but that it had been delivered in the wrong way.

Headmistress Pauline Warren wrote to parents this week telling them she had destroyed any booklets that had not already been taken home by kids.

She said: 'Parents may find some of this information sensitive for their children and inappropriate.

'If the booklet is in your child's possession, remove it and read it yourself.'

Checks are now being carried out to see whether other children under eight have been given the booklet.

Vanessa Brown, Brighton and Hove City Council Cabinet member for education, said: 'That sort of wording does concern me.'

Dr Adrian Rogers, of the pressure group Family Focus, said he had concerns about the material in the booklet being directed at pre-teens.

'This strikes me as something more suitable almost for 12 and 13 year olds,' he said.

'Is it necessary to inform all children about child abuse at the age of eight. I'm afraid that by informing all children about this sort of thing some of them may actually be harmed as a result by having thoughts or fears about their mum or seeing the doctor.

'I can understand where this is coming from but when do our children go out into the world?'

In the know: The NSPCC booklet is to be handed out to eight year old girls

No one at the school was available for comment yesterday.

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said: 'The booklet was sent to pupils in Year 3 who are eight years old or will be in the near future.

'The school accepts that it perhaps could have been checked more thoroughly before being sent to these pupils.'

A spokeswoman for the charity said: ''The NSPCC produced this magazine because our research has shown that significant numbers of children who experience child abuse or bullying tell nobody and suffer in silence.

'We want to raise awareness so that children speak out sooner and, as necessary, receive the help and support that they need.'

She said the sexual references in the booklet were all covered by the compulsory national curriculum and that both children, teachers and parents had been consulted and that schools were advised to allow parents to opt out of their child receiving the material.

She added: 'However, we recognise that all children are different and that what is suitable for one child may not be suitable for another.'