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Research And Policy News

Current research and policy news from Government departments, research centres, publishers, and relationships and family organisations, along with links to further information.

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March 2007

30 March 2007

Review of children and young people's policy published

The Department for Education and Skills and the Treasury have launched their final report for the joint review of children and young people's policy.

30 March 2007

Netmums and the Equal Opportunities Commission survey

An online survey of 2,080 mums released by Netmums and the Equal Opportunities Commission shows that only 4 in 10 mums think their bosses fully understand how to manage pregnant staff.

30 March 2007

Marriage, divorce (2004) and adoption (2005) statistics from National Statistics

National Statistics has published marriage and divorce statistics for 2004 and adoption statistics for 2005.

30 March 2007

The work-rich/work-poor society

New research from the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) highlights Britain’s widening gap between ‘work-rich’ (two-earner) families and ‘work-poor’ (no-earner) families. While well-qualified couples in good health are increasingly likely to bring home two pay packets, disadvantaged couples are increasingly likely to have no job between them. And more single people are out of work.

28 March 2007

Working for Children - new measures to lift children out of poverty

New measures to lift more children in the UK out of poverty by getting more parents into work have been announced by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions John Hutton. Working for Children sets out how the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will help parents to lift themselves and their children out of poverty through employment.

28 March 2007

The Quality of Childhood - Conservative Party investigation

David Cameron has launched an investigation into the way children are treated in Britain. A taskforce will inquire into the quality of childhood in the UK, led by Shadow Education Secretary David Willetts, and a group of independent experts including Lord Richard Best, a crossbench peer and former Director of Rowntree Trust; Sir Richard Bowlby, President of the Centre for Child Mental Health; Tim Gill, Director of the Children's Play Council (now Play England) from 1997 to 2004, and author of the forthcoming No Fear: Growing up in a risk-averse society; Baroness Susan Greenfield, Professor of Pharmacology, and Director of the Institute for the Future of the Mind, University of Oxford; Sue Palmer; author of Toxic Childhood; and Bob Reitmeier; CEO of The Children's Society.

28 March 2007

Lone Parents Pilots

The Department for Work and Pensions has published its findings on the Lone Parents Pilots entitled Lone Parents Pilots: A qualitative evaluation of Quarterly Work Focused Interviews (12+), Work Search Premium and In Worl Credit.

28 March 2007

Lone Parents Pilots

Experience of work and job retention among lone parents has also been published by the Department for Work and Pensions.

26 March 2007

Improving transparency and privacy in family courts

The Department for Constitutional Affairs has published the summary of responses to the consultation paper Confidence and confidentiality: Improving transparency and privacy in family courts.

26 March 2007

Parents urged to consider welfare of children before going to the family courts

Divorced and separated parents who go to court to settle disputes could risk making matters worse for their children. When opening a new facility at the South East London Family Mediation Bureau in Bromley, Family Justice Minister Harriet Harman said that wherever possible separating parents should be encouraged to agree the future of their children's welfare rather than going to court.

22 March 2007

Study shows stressed parents can make for unhappy children

Using data from the British Household Panel Survey, a study from the Institute of Education investigated the extent to which parental stress and distress are transmitted to children. The study found that children whose parents experience a lot of stress are significantly less satisfied with their lives than children whose parents take life easily. Parents’ suffering has a long-term impact on a child’s emotional well-being, and fathers’ distress levels are particularly crucial in determining a child’s satisfaction with life.

22 March 2007

Budget 2007

In the Chancellor's eleventh Budget he discusses arrangements for married couples as well as expanding funds for Childline and Parentline Plus.

20 March 2007

Parentline Plus Survey: Pressure to be supermum is spoiling parethood

Pressure to be a ‘supermum’ is spoiling the enjoyment of being a parent according to a poll by national charity Parentline Plus. The survey shows how the stresses and strains of bringing up children in the 21st century are taking their toll on many parents. The online poll asked: ‘Do you feel under pressure to be a super mum?’ More than 500 people voted with an overwhelming number – 416 votes (79.1%– saying yes) and it’s taking away the enjoyment of being a parent.’

20 March 2007

New data shows excluded families must get personalised support programmes

New Government data reveals the true picture about socially excluded families. It shows that over 140,000 families are at risk, suffering 5 or more indicators of social exclusion and need more family-tailored support packages at 'critical moments'. The released data marks the beginning of the Families At Risk Review. For more information and to respond to the Families At Risk Review call for evidence visit http://survey.cesi.org.uk/setf/MainPage.htm

20 March 2007

Black and Asian women are "missing" from a third of workplaces

Moving on Up: Ethnic Minority Women at Work, published by the Equal Opportunities Commission has established that Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Black Caribbean women face significantly greater penalties than white women in the workplace. Those who want to work are finding it more difficult to get jobs, progress within them and are more likely to be segregated into certain types of work, despite leaving school with the same career aspirations as white girls and similar or better qualifications than white boys.

15 March 2007

Every Parent Matters

Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, has published Every Parent Matters which sets out the vital role of parents in improving their child’s life chances and educational attainment and how the Government can best help them achieve this.

13 March 2007

Early Years Foundation Stage framework published by the DfES

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has published the new framework for development, learning and care of all children in their early years. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a comprehensive framework which sets the standards for development, learning and care of all children from birth to five.

12 March 2007

Parenting programmes can prove cost effective finds the BMJ

An article published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has found that parenting programmes can prove to be cost effective.

07 March 2007

Children and young people's concerns about their sexual health and well-being

The Centre for Research on Families and Relationships and Childline Scotland have published their final report to the Scottish Executive on Children and Young People's Concerns about the Sexual Health and Wellbeing.

07 March 2007

Supporting parents of teenagers

The Department for Education and Skills has published a report reviewing what is currently known about services which support parents during their child's teenage years, in order to inform the development of such services in the future.

07 March 2007

New study reveals divide between have and have not families

Many parents are struggling to find the time they want with their children, particularly lower income families, according to a new study entitled State of the Modern Family released by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC).

05 March 2007

David Freud's review of welfare

A radical review of welfare has been carried out by David Freud. The recommendations in the report entitled Reducing Dependency, Increasing Opportunity: options for the future of welfare, include rebalancing rights and responsibilities in the welfare system - matching increased support with greater obligations on claimants to look for work. In particular placing greater responsibilities on lone parents with older children to look for work once their youngest child reaches 12, rather than the current age of 16.

05 March 2007

Toddler tests

From the first smile to the first word, signs that a toddler is learning to communicate are a source of great joy for any new parent. But a child's inability to develop such skills at an early stage can be a source of angst. A new study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has come up with new tests for pre-schoolers to help recognise potential problems earlier.

05 March 2007

Advertising campaign to mark start of domestic violence month

Friends of victims of domestic violence are being urged to report offences under a new advertising campaign launched to mark the start of Domestic Violence month. The campaign was launched by Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland on a visit to the Nottingham Women's Centre, where she met with support staff and survivors of domestic violence. The 'Enough' poster, press and radio campaign will run throughout March.

05 March 2007

Improving services for children in care

Children, Young People and Families Minister, Parmijit Dhanda, has met with key regional partners to discuss the development of a unique 'corporate parenting charter' for looked after children and care leavers in the East of England. At present the long-term prospects for children in care are a cause for concern. They under-perform in education and are over-represented in a range of vulnerable groups including young offenders, drug users and prisoners. The proposed regional charter aims to serve children in a holistic way and will cover the following areas: staying safe; being healthy; enjoying and achieving; making a positive contribution and economic wellbeing.

05 March 2007

Quality improvement project to help early years and childcare providers

Children, Young People and Families Minister Beverley Hughes and Sue Owen, Director of the Early Childhood Unit at National Children’s Bureau have announced a Quality Improvement Project to help childcare providers, local authorities and sector organisations to work together to promote high quality early learning and childcare. The project will focus on how early years and childcare settings can be supported in continuously improving the quality of their provision above and beyond minimum Ofsted standards.

02 March 2007

Antenatal and Postnatal Mental Health

Antenatal and Postnatal Mental Health: Clinical management and service guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence providing guidelines on mental health problems during pregnancy and after giving birth.

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