Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Accepted in Part
Evaluate effectiveness of local initiatives and commission schemes supporting fathers' caring roles nationwide.
Recommendation
There have been recent local initiatives, for example in Blackpool, Bradford, Lambeth, Nottingham and Southend, in partnership with the National Children’s Bureau’s A Better Start campaign, designed to support fathers to play a more equal role in parenting. This has included training for local authority, third sector and NHS service providers, bespoke services for men taking care of their babies and facilitating spaces and communities in which fathers can share their experiences and support each other. A Better Start was a 10-year programme that is largely coming to an end this year, with an evaluation expected early in 2026. As part of its review, the Government should consider the evidence on the effectiveness of initiatives such as A Better Start partnerships in supporting men to take a greater caring role. It should consider the benefits of commissioning schemes of this nature across the country. (Recommendation, Paragraph 71) 58
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the 'A Better Start' campaign and states it will invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme to support parents. As part of the parental leave and pay review, it will consider evidence from a wide range of stakeholders and has launched a call for evidence, but it doesn't specifically commit to commissioning 'A Better Start' type schemes nationally.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The government values the important role fathers and partners play in both caring for their children and supporting the mother after having a child. We recognise that parental leave and pay entitlements, such as Paternity Leave and Pay, play a key role in this. We thank the committee for highlighting the “A Better Start” campaign and it’s aims to support more gender equal parenting. On 11 June, the Chancellor set out plans for spending and public sector reforms through the Spending Review 2025. This announcement confirmed departmental budgets for 2026–27 onwards and committed to invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme, working with parents to help give children the best start in life. The 75 areas currently participating in the programme receive funding to improve their parenting offer for expectant parents and/or those with babies ages 0–2 with a focus on promoting the importance of bonding and attachment. Local authorities have also commissioned evidence-based programmes to suit their local context – to support prospective parents for parenthood and promote the importance of bonding and attachment and the home learning environment for pre-school children. By focusing support on the home environment, parents (mothers/fathers and caregivers), and the quality of parent-child relationships, we are helping to give children the best start in life and delivering on the government’s Plan for Change, details of which are available on GOV.UK. There are several policy areas or initiatives which have clear links and interdependencies with the parental leave and pay system, including enforcement of employment rights, employment status and childcare provision. Whilst these go beyond the scope of the parental leave and pay review, we will consider the interactions with ongoing government work in these areas, limited to potential impacts from possible reforms to the parental leave and pay system. We will draw on the experience and evidence available across a wide range of stakeholders, both from groups representing parents and families, including trade unions, and with employers or employer representatives. Alongside the review, we also launched a call for evidence, open for eight weeks, to start this work. The parental leave and pay review will also support the government’s commitments to raising living standards and giving children the best start in life.