Pre-school children often spend the most part of the day at a pre-primary school or a day care centre. Pre-school children sometimes make the first statement of sexual abuse to a pre-school teacher. Due to this phenomenon it is important that pre-school personnel are knowledgeable about basic information in connection with sexual abuse of the pre-school child and the reporting of the abuse. A positive attitude toward the protection of children against sexual abuse and the willingness to get involved in the reporting of sexual abuse or the suspicion there of, will guarantee that the best interest of the pre-school child is served. Die purpose of the research was to ascertain the knowledge and attitude of pre-school personnel toward sexual abuse of pre-school children and the reporting there of, to determine whether pre-school personnel act in the best interest of pre-school children. The research followed a quantitative approach. 13 Pre-primary schools took part in the research and 70 pre-school personnel completed the questionnaires. The questionnaires were completed in the participants own time. The findings clearly showed that pre-school personnel who were involved in the research did not have sufficient knowledge, nor a desirable attitude toward sexual abuse of the pre-school child and the reporting thereof. A need for training in this field can be concluded from the findings. / Thesis (MSW (Forensic))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Pre-school children often spend the most part of the day at a pre-primary school or a day care centre. Pre-school children sometimes make the first statement of sexual abuse to a pre-school teacher. Due to this phenomenon it is important that pre-school personnel are knowledgeable about basic information in connection with sexual abuse of the pre-school child and the reporting of the abuse. A positive attitude toward the protection of children against sexual abuse and the willingness to get involved in the reporting of sexual abuse or the suspicion there of, will guarantee that the best interest of the pre-school child is served. Die purpose of the research was to ascertain the knowledge and attitude of pre-school personnel toward sexual abuse of pre-school children and the reporting there of, to determine whether pre-school personnel act in the best interest of pre-school children. The research followed a quantitative approach. 13 Pre-primary schools took part in the research and 70 pre-school personnel completed the questionnaires. The questionnaires were completed in the participants own time. The findings clearly showed that pre-school personnel who were involved in the research did not have sufficient knowledge, nor a desirable attitude toward sexual abuse of the pre-school child and the reporting thereof. A need for training in this field can be concluded from the findings. / Thesis (MSW (Forensic))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012