Welcome to March's issue of the Family and Parenting Institute's newsletter.

This month's poll: Will more children get a better education through the use of a "lottery" admissions system?

vote Vote

Results of February's poll:Should all practitioners giving parenting advice have a parenting qualification?

Yes: 55% No: 45%

1. News

Working mothers still face discrimination

The Equalities Review cites a survey of 122 recruitment agencies that revealed more than 70% of them had been asked by clients to avoid hiring pregnant women or those of childbearing age.
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Fall in UK marriages

In England and Wales marriages fell by 10 per cent in 2005 to 244,710, which is the lowest number of marriages since 1896.
More

Money Programme: Rising costs causing couples to delay starting families

A survey for BBC Two's The Money Programme suggests that nearly half of all people who plan to have children are delaying starting a family because of the expense.
Mary MacLeod: "We are making it seem as if you have to be in this wonderful perfect position before you take on the responsibility of having children and I find that a great shame."
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Three major policy reviews:

from the findings of the Families and Social Capital ESRC Research Group covering:
children's transition from primary to secondary school
social networks in the everyday lives of transnational families.
young people's accounts of their transitions into adulthood
More

Early Learning Partnership Project

The Family and Parenting Institute is leading a new initiative to support parents in nine locations to do the best for their children before they start school.

The initiative, the Early Learning Partnership Project, will work with parents of children aged 1-3 to support them to make the most of their children's curiosity and appetite for learning during the first three years – the period when children's play is most crucial to their development.
More

More news

2. Family Policy Digest

This digest tracks the latest legislation, research, publications and debate on family policy. This month's digest is in a new format to help you find items of interest to you.
This month includes:

  • the UNICEF report on children's wellbeing
  • Joseph Rowntree Foundation reports on the public's beliefs about poverty in Britain
  • proposals to tackle infant mortality and post-natal depression.

More

3. Horizon scan

Upcoming policy, research and media debate that may impact on the public debate around family policy and the role of the state in supporting families

2007 Budget

The Treasury has confirmed that the Budget will be announced on 21 March at 12.30pm

Smoking ban

The ban will come into force:

  • Wales – 2 April 2007
  • Northern Ireland – 30 April 2007

Work and Families Act

The main parts of the Act will come into force on 6 April this year and include:

  • extending paid maternity leave from 6 to 9 months, with the aim of a year's paid leave by the end of this parliament
  • a set of measures to help ease the administration of maternity, paternity and adoption pay;
  • extending the right to request flexible working to carers of adults, about 2.65million carers will be entitled to this right.

The Nurse Family Partnership project

In February this year, the Government announced the selection of 10 local areas in England who will be pioneering the Nurse Family Partnership project, based on David Olds' highly successful programme from North America. The programme will provide structured and intensive home visiting by midwives and health visitors to disadvantaged mothers from pregnancy until the child is aged two. Sites go live April 2007.

Social Exclusion Task Force

  • The Adults Facing Chronic Exclusion pilots will be announced early May 2007
  • The SETF is leading a cross–Whitehall review on excluded families, to be published in summer 2007.

Social Exclusion Taskforce

Family Support in Children's Centres

Comprehensive new research on family support in children's centres by Family and Parenting Institute due for launch in April 2007 .

Limiting illness and poverty: breaking the vicious cycle

Comprehensive new research on family support in children's centres by Family and Parenting Institute due for launch in April 2007 .

jrf

Plan to tackle gun crime

Home Secretary John Reid has confirmed that he will toughen sentencing for 18-20 year olds in relation to gun crime.

www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news/gun-crime-plan

New parenting strategy

Secretary of State for Education Alan Johnson announced he plans to launch a new parenting strategy

DfES

4. Events calendar - 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.

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5. Notice board

PARENTS' WEEK 2007

This year, Parents' Week, organised by Family and Parenting Institute, runs from Monday 15th to Sunday 21st October 2007 with the theme focusing on working with troubled families.
Note for your diary: A one day conference for practitioners on Monday 15th October in Central London.

More

Spring Special offer to all Family and Parenting Institute Email newsletter/website readers:

Latest publications available to order now:
Email newsletter/website readers: 10% off all publications orders over £30.

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Consultations

Child maintenance White Paper

A new system of child maintenance

The deadline for responses is 13 March 2007.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/childmaintenance

Childcare Act 2006 - Securing Sufficient Childcare: Consultation on Regulations and Guidance

The draft guidance and regulations set out the framework for how local authorities will facilitate the childcare market and secure sufficient provision.

The deadline for responses is 2 May 2007.
DfES

Equality for Disabled People: how will we know we are making progress?

The deadline for responses is 9 May 2007.

http://www.officefordisability.gov.uk/consultations/

Suzie Peleg

Information and Website Manager
www.familyandparenting.org

March 2007

Family and Parenting News is published monthly. The next issue is due out on 04 April 2007.

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Last updated: 7th November 2008 at 12:11:01