| “The Home Front debunks popular perceptions of a decline in parenting ability that attribute blame to certain types of family.” “The Home Front recommends building the parenting skills base, targeting support according to need, applying the early intervention principle beyond the early years and supporting shared parenting, social networks and communities.” “Parenting has become more important in determining life chances.” “…parental warmth is consistently distributed throughout economic groups.” “Poverty puts pressure on parents by restricting the types of provisions, services and accommodation that parents can afford.” …those in in-work poverty are seeing little change, and the number of those in in-work poverty exceeds that of workless impoverished families.” “Recommendations: - Set the standards for reliable parenting information and advice.
- Improve recruitment and retention of health visitors
- Broaden the health visitor role to make health visitors a universal frontline parenting support service.
- Integrate health visiting with local children’s and health services.
- Refocus Sure Start according to the principles of progressive universalism
- Cap health visiting caseloads in disadvantaged areas
- Develop a second tier of screening for primary school children.
- Ensure that every primary school has a parent liaison officer.
- Develop a parenting ‘booster’ class.
- Reduce number of families in in-work poverty by supporting a living wage.
- Boost capacity of organisations to offer flexible work.
- Adopt an equal system of parental leave.
- Move fathers’ involvement in parenting related public services into the mainstream.
- Government should not introduce a married tax allowance.
- Improve relationship support by taking advantage of key transition points.
- Keep Sure Start open to all.
- Demos supports the coalition’s plans to train community organisers and help set up new neighbourhood groups.”
| 