Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted
Paragraph: 98
Better support for stay-at-home parents crucial for family choice and child development
Conclusion
Parents who choose to care for their children at home do important work. With better support, parents would have more of a choice over whether they work or stay at home and have better flexibility to respond to their family’s needs. More support would also help parents in developing a better home learning environment. The home learning environment is vitally important component of a child’s development. While support for families is not directly in the remit of the Department for Education, it will be important for the Government to complement their expansions in childcare with a more family-centred approach, and in particular, better support for parents who choose to stay at home.
Government Response Summary
The government recognises the importance of supporting families and is investing £300 million to establish 75 local family hubs, including £50 million for parenting support, to provide coordinated local support and advice for parents.
Paragraph Reference:
98
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
8. The Government also recognises that raising a family is both exciting and challenging, and wants to ensure parents and carers across England have access to local, co-ordinated support and advice in raising a family. To deliver on this vision, the Government is investing around £300 million to enable 75 local authorities to create family hubs, and to improve vital services to give every baby the best start in life. This includes £50 million for support for parenting to help new and expectant parents make the transition to parenthood as smooth as possible. Family hubs are ‘one stop shops’ that make it easier for families to get the support they need. The hub approach means professionals and partners working together more effectively, with a focus on supporting and strengthening the family relationships that carry us all through life.