TEACHERS should tell children as young as four about domestic violence and consent, an MP claims.

The SNP's Gavin Newlands says Scotland should “show the rest of the world what can be done” to drive down crimes against women.

The Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP, who is an ambassador for the UK arm of the international White Ribbon anti-male-violence campaign, wants the Scottish Government to include the issue in the national curriculum.

This includes content written specially for every age and stage of standard schooling, from primary one to sixth year.

Police Scotland received almost 59,000 reports of domestic abuse in 2016-17. The total breaks down to an average of one every nine minutes.

Meanwhile, officers have warned almost 1,000 women that their partners have a history of abusive behaviour in the two years since the introduction of Clare’s Law, which aims to prevent attacks in relationships.

The law is named after Clare Wood, who was murdered by her boyfriend in Greater Manchester and did not know of his violent past.

Currently charities like Zero Tolerance produce targeted guidance for use in schools, while organisations like Renfrewshire Women’s Aid also undertake visits to classes.

However, such activity is at the discretion of headteachers and Newlands, who also co-chairs the Westminster parliament’s White Ribbon All-Party Parliamentary Group, says all children must be introduced to “vital” lessons about gender equality, respect and violence prevention under national guidelines.

The call comes one week after countless Scottish women and girls shared their stories of abuse and sexual harassment through the #metoo hashtag in the wake of accusations about film producer Harvey Weinstein. More than 40 women claim to have been assaulted or harassed by the mogul.

Newlands told The National: “Domestic violence legislation, on both sides of the Border, has improved exponentially over the past decade or so, providing greater support to those who experience gender-based violence and punishing those who commit these violent acts.

“However, if we’re truly wanting to end the violence that too many women and girls still face on a daily basis, then we need to introduce the very best preventative measures that will help to break this destructive cycle of violence.

“We need to have an open and frank discussion with young people about the importance of consent and about gender-based violence. In my own personal view, this has to be part of a prevention framework on the curriculum to ensure that every pupil receives this vital education.

“Scotland has the opportunity to lead on this issue, showing the rest of the world what can be done to ensure that we can live in a world where women and girls can live without the fear of violence hanging over them.”

Dr Marsha Scott of Scottish Women’s Aid said embedding such content in the curriculum could help reset the attitudes about gender that drive offending against women, with lessons beginning at nursery.

Backing Newlands, she went on: “Schools have a role in helping kids become critical thinkers in a society where they are deluged with sexist images and messages – it is the only place that can be interrupted.”

The Scottish Government said work on these areas is already taking place.

However, what is currently on offer falls short of the framework proposed by Newlands.

A spokesperson for the SNP administration said: "We want every child and young person in Scotland to develop mutually respectful, responsible and confident relationships with other children, young people and adults.

“We published updated guidance for teachers on relationships, sexual health and parenthood education in 2014. The guidance encourages equality and mutual respect from an early age and will support teachers deal with issues such as misogyny in schools.

“At the same time, our Mentors in Violence Prevention Scotland Programme is working hard to tackle gender stereotyping and attitudes that condone violence against women and girls.”