Education secretary Michael Gove has attacked the Musicians' Union (MU) for advising its members to adopt a policy of no touching when teaching pupils. In an open letter to the union, he said that the advice 'plays to a culture of fear among adults and children', and that his department 'is taking steps to restore common sense to this whole area'.

Gove's comments come in response to a recent training video from the MU and the NSPCC in which teachers are advised that touching is not necessary to demonstrate technique and that it could leave them open to accusations of inappropriate behaviour.

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