Parents' money saving tips
What better way to find out how families can save money than getting tips straight from the horse's mouth?
More
The State and the Family: Supporting Relationships
– time for a rethink?
Speech given by Mary MacLeod at the Government Relationship Summit – 18 December 2008
More
Welcome to March's issue of the Family and Parenting Institute's newsletter. To subscribe to this newsletter click here
1. News
2. Family Policy Digest
3. Horizon scan
4. Forward look
5. Notice board
6. Consultations
1. News
Better behaved kids in Children's Centre areas
Children living in areas with a Sure Start Children's Centre behave better and are more independent, according to the findings of an independent review published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
DCSF
More on Family Support in Children's Centres.
Purse strings affect number of children
Financial pressures affect the number of children couples in Australia have according to a survey from the Australian Institute of Family Studies. There is growing evidence that social and economic policies do have an important role in stemming the declines in fertility rates.
Alan Hayes, who is a Director at the Institute, will be speaking at our two-day conference – November 17-18
ContactPoint's security
The security of ContactPoint – the electronic database that holds information on children – has been examined by Deloitte on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
New obesity stats
One in four children are obese by the time they hit school age with the figure rising to one in three as children move on to secondary school.
The new statistics are from the Department of Health's latest study into the height and weight of the nation's school children.
Looking at young people
The Office of National Statistics figures show teenage pregnancy rates continue to fall. There is a review of the delivery of sex and relationship education (SRE) in primary and secondary schools and the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, announced new measures to tackle underage drinking, and violence related to binge drinking. In June last year "Sex, Drugs, Alcohol and Young People: A review of the impact drugs and alcohol have on young people's sexual behaviour, "Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV was published in June last year.More
2. Digest
This month's digest includes the Government's Staying Safe action plan for children, while issues of drugs, underage drinking and teenage pregnancy are also highlighted.
3. Horizon Scan
Dr. Tanya Byron
Three literature reviews on media effects, child development and brain development.
These literature reviews, alongside reports of both Calls for Evidence and the qualitative research, will be published with the final report towards the end of March.
Duties commencing on 1 April 2008 under the Childcare Act 2006
- Local authorities will have a duty to secure sufficient childcare to enable parents to work, or to undertake education and training leading to work.
- Local authorities are required to improve outcomes for all young children in their area and reduce inequalities, through the provision of accessible and integrated early childhood services. It also places a duty on local authorities, Primary Care Trusts, Strategic Health Authorities, and Jobcentre Plus to work in partnership to achieve these aims.
- Local authorities will have a duty to provide information, advice and assistance to parents and prospective parents of children and young people up to age 20 on childcare and other services, particularly for the parents of disabled children. This duty was introduced in section 12 of the Childcare Act 2006.
From the Comprehensive Spending Review:
- The child element of the Child Tax Credit will increase by a further £25 per year above indexation from April 2008 and by a further £25 above indexation from April 2010.
- The national roll-out of the In-Work Credit for lone parents at a rate of £40, retaining a rate of £60 in London will commence in April 2008.
Play facilities funding
The Government's commitment to invest £225 million in building or upgrading playgrounds and setting up new supervised adventure playgrounds, was outlined in the Children's Plan in December. Fifteen local authorities will be selected as play pathfinders from April 2008.
Funding boost
Over the next three years £31 million pounds of funding will be available to third sector organisations that work with children and families. The money will help a range of services that deal with issues from teenage pregnancy to supporting children in care.
Parenting Fund – Round One
We will be releasing the final report outlining highlights and successes from the first round of the Parenting Fund in the next few weeks.
4. Forward Look
Check here for upcoming events in the family and parenting world. Please let us know of your forthcoming events so we can include them.
5. Noticeboard
Supporting Adult Relationships: Time for a rethink?
This is a seminar to debate a key issue for government and family policy.
Wednesday 12 March, 2008
1:00pm - 3:00pm
London
Please contact apgpf@familyandparenting.org for more details.
Putting Sibling Relationships on the map: A multi-disciplinary perspective
An expert seminar to bring together leading researchers and practitioners from different academic disciplines who are invited to talk about their research into sibling relationships
Wednesday 30 April, 2008
London
Contact Daniel Horn at horn@familyandparenting.org for more details.
Training
The National Academy for Parenting Practitioners, in partnership with the Centre for Parent Child Support, has developed an innovative specialist "top-up" training to meet the needs of qualified social workers who are involved in delivering parenting support. This programme is being offered free to social workers by the Academy.
For further details and an application pack please contact Meriel Martin, Training Coordinator at mmartin@parentingacademy.org 020 7848 7524
Parents' Week 2008: Getting it right for families
This year's Parents' Week will be from Monday 20 to Sunday 26 October. Parents' Week offers a great opportunity for those who work with families to arrange events and activities, supported by resources and events from the Family and Parenting Institute. The two-day conference will take place on 17 and 18 November 2008.
6. Consultations
Draft core offer for disabled children
The Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health have written to local authorities and other stakeholders inviting views on a draft statement of the 'core offer' for disabled children and their families announced in Aiming High for Disabled Children, published in May 2007.
- Deadline:13 March 2008
Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 - relevant third party
The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 enables applications by a relevant third party on behalf of a victim of forced marriage. This consultation asks for responses on what need there is for relevant third parties, who should act, and what safeguards might be needed.
- Deadline:14 March 2008
Home Access to Technology consultation
This consultation seeks views on the proposed Home Access programme that aims to ensure that every family with 5-19 year old learners in England has access to learning where and when they need it through access to ICT resources and support at home.
- Deadline:2 April 2008
The Border and Immigration Agency code of practice for keeping children safe from harm
The UK Borders Act 2007 provides for a Code of Practice designed to ensure that in exercising functions in the United Kingdom the Border and Immigration Agency takes appropriate steps to ensure that while children are in the United Kingdom they are safe from harm.
- Deadline: 25 April 2008
Suzie Peleg Information and Website Manager
www.familyandparenting.org
March 2008
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