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Sure Start direction change criticised
There are 188 designated children's centres up and running. Original local Sure Start projects start being wound up and Sure Start Children's Centres folded back into local Government control. Norman Glass, the architect of Sure Start, publishes an article criticising the change of direction for the scheme.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2005/jan/05/guardiansocietysupplement.childrensservices -
Child Trust Fund launch
Child Trust Fund launched as a savings and investment account for children. Children born on or after 1 September 2002 will receive a 250 voucher to start their account.
http://www.childtrustfund.gov.uk/ -
First Children's Commissioner appointed
Professor Al Aynsley-Green is appointed England's first Children's Commissioner
www.11million.org.uk -
Common Assessment Framework implemented
Local authorities start implementing the Common Assessment Framework, a form used by any practitioner assessing a child's needs, to simplify the assessment process for parents and professionals and encourage joint working.
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/deliveringservices/caf/ -
Strengthening Families Grant established
Family Support Grant and the Marriage and Relationship grant formed a single programme %u2013 the Strengthening Families Grant which focuses on support for couples, parents and families.
http://www.surestart.gov.uk/surestartservices/support/families/ -
Extended school prospectus published
Extended schools to be rolled out nationally by 2010, including parenting and family support.
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/resources-and-practice/search/IG00046/ -
Youth Matters green paper
The Youth Matters Green Paper includes proposals for: a duty on local authorities to secure positive activities for all young people; an 'opportunity fund' in each Local Authority to be spent on local projects that young people want; and piloting youth opportunity cards.
http://tinyurl.com/dctemr -
Respect Task Force set up
Respect Task Force (to change into Respect Unit) set up in the Home Office and led by Louise Casey.
http://www.respect.gov.uk/members/article.aspx?id=8524 -
Targeted Youth Support Programme
Targeted Youth Support Programme piloted in 14 local authority areas
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/deliveringservices/targetedyouthsupport/ -
Children, YP and Families Grant programme
Children, Young People and Families Grant programme launched bringing together existing funding schemes such the Strengthening Families Grant.
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/strategy/voluntaryandcommunity/cypfgrant/ -
Higher standards, better schools for all published
Government publishes its White Paper, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All, which includes a measure which will allow schools to apply for parenting orders, and proposed introducing choice advisers to help parents choose schools.
http://tinyurl.com/ch34f7 -
Commission on Families and the Wellbeing of Children
The Commission on Families and the Wellbeing of Children, set up by the National Family and Parenting Institute, reports on the relationship between the state and the family. -
National evaluation of Sure Start
Reports from the National Evaluation of Sure Start analysing the early stages of the programme are published. They do not demonstrate significant difference between populations with and without access to Sure Start programmes, but highlight the diversity between programmes.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2005_0146 -
Support for parents report
Treasury report, Support for parents: the best start for children, published.
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/prebud_pbr05_adparents.htm -
National Child Index announced
Following recommendations from Lord Laming's report, Beverley Hughes announces the Government plans to implement a national child index to enable practitioners to share information about children, operational by the end of 2008. Implementation costs are budgeted at 224 million over three years. and operating costs at 41 million per year, both to be funded by central Government.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2005_0154 -
Respect Action Plan
Respect Action Plan publishes proposals for:
* National Academy for Parenting Practitioners)
* a network of intensive "family support schemes"
* measures relating to schools which were subsequently brought in under the provisions of the Education and Inspections Act
* ways in which local authorities could improve commissioning of parenting services
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/respect-action-plan -
Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services
Publication of the Joint Planning and Commissioning Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/strategy/planningandcommissioning/
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2006_0024 -
Children's centres funding transferred
Funding for Children's Centres now provided through local authorities, rather than centrally. -
Funding for lead professionals in parental support
Pilots for budget-holding lead professionals set up across 16 local authorities as proposed in Support for parents: the best start for children
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/deliveringservices/leadprofessional/budgetholding/
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/prebud_pbr05_adparents.htm -
Policy review of children and young people
Treasury policy review of children and young people launched to inform Comprehensive Spending Review 2007
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2006_0099 -
Childcare Act 2006
First Act to deal solely with early years and childcare. It gives local authorities new duties to provide information and advice, and sufficient childcare for all working parents, especially those with disabled children and those on lower incomes -
Parenting Support Commissioners
Local Authorities are asked to identify a single commissioner of parenting support services, in a letter sent by the Minister for Children, Young People and Families -
Funding for parenting courses pilot scheme
Children's minister Beverley Hughes announces 2 year 10 million funding for a pilot scheme of parenting courses in 15 local authorities for children aged 8-13
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2006_0108 -
The Market for Parental and Family Support Services
Publication of the Price Waterhouse Coopers report, The Market for Parental and Family Support Services.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RW72.pdf -
Choice advisers introduced
Choice advisers start to be introduced in schools to help parents with the admissions process
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2006_0085 -
Parent Support Advisers start work
Parent Support Advisers (PSAs) introduced in 20 local authorities and 600 schools as part of 40 million Government pilot project to support children and families where there are early signs that they could benefit from additional help. Help will include parenting programmes, mentoring for parents or children and one to one tuition.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=191610&NewsAreaID=2 -
Reaching out: an action plan on social exclusion
Published by the Cabinet Office, it highlights the importance of parenting as a factor in improving outcomes for children, and announces ten health-led parenting support demonstration projects for vulnerable first-time mothers from pregnancy to age two, based on David Olds' programme in the US.
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/social_exclusion_task_force/publications/reaching_out.aspx -
Parenting Support guidance published
Publication of Parenting Support guidance to local authorities in England asking local authorities to develop parenting support services through a parenting support strategy that informs the Children and Young People's Plans and take account of parents' views.
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/resources-and-practice/IG00169/ -
Care Matters green paper published
Care Matters Green Paper published which produces proposals to address the problems of children in care including prevention policies for families with children on the edge of care, better "corporate parenting"; better fostering models and better educational support.
http://tinyurl.com/d72n9j -
National Academy for Parenting Practitioners remit
The remit for the National Academy for Parenting Practitioners is published
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/parents/napp/ -
Police and Justice Act 2006
The Police and Justice Act 2006 enables a local authority or a registered social landlord to enter into a parenting contract with a parent, and enables a local authority or a registered social landlord to apply for a parenting order.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060048_en_1 -
Education and Inspections Act 2006
Education and Inspections Act 2006 extends parenting contracts and parenting orders so that they can be used before the pupil has been excluded. Schools are enabled to make their own applications for parenting orders. The Act also provides for penalty notices or prosecution for parents where excluded pupils are found in a public place during school hours during the first five days of their exclusion. These provisions come into force in September 2007
http://tinyurl.com/cxj738 -
Intensive home visiting pilots funding
7 million announced jointly by the Department of Health and the DFES to fund pilots of intensive home visiting to families by health visitors and midwives during pregnancy and the first two years of children's lives, as announced in the Action Plan on Social Exclusion. Due to start April 2007
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/news/?asset=News&id=48336 -
Early Learning Partnership Projects
Early Learning Partnership Projects established to support 1 to 3 year olds who are at risk of learning delay %u2013 administered by the Family and Parenting Institute.
http://www.familyandparenting.org/page/149 -
Parenting experts to help parents
The Home Office's Respect Unit announces a 4 million project to establish parenting experts, dubbed Supernannies by the press, in 77 areas in Britain, to help parents who are worried about their children's behaviour. The Department for Education and Skills also announces that it will fund training for up to 1,000 frontline workers in 50 areas with a Family Intervention Project set up by January 2007
http://www.respect.gov.uk/members/article.aspx?id=9254 -
Starting School Project
Starting School Project (previously Transition Information Sessions) rolled out nationwide, coordinated by the Family and Parenting Institute and 4Children
http://www.familyandparenting.org/startingSchoolProject -
1,000 children's centres
There are 1,000 Children's Centres of which about 500 were Sure Start Local Programmes, 430 Neighbourhood Nurseries and 70 Early Excellence Centres (National Audit Office figures)
http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/0607/sure_start_childrens_centres.aspx -
Youth support programme begins national roll-out
Targeted youth support programme begins national roll-out (to be completed by 2008). All local authorities are now required to secure access for young people to 'positive activities' under the Education and Inspections Act 2006
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/deliveringservices/targetedyouthsupport/ -
Children and Young People policy review
Treasury publishes a discussion paper from the Children and Young People review ahead of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/policy_review_children_and_young_people.htm -
First wave of Respect areas announced
The Respect Unit announces 40 Respect Areas which will have extra money for police, parenting classes and intensive support for parents, a budget of 125,000 per area. Family Intervention Projects will be a key plank of the respect zones.
http://www.respect.gov.uk/members/article.aspx?id=9796
http://www.respect.gov.uk/members/article.aspx?id=8846 -
ContactPoint online directory approved
Information Sharing Index renamed ContactPoint
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/deliveringservices/contactpoint/ -
Funding for Parenting Support Strategy
Beverley Hughes announces 7.5 million of funding for local authorities to develop and implement a parenting support strategy as outlined in the parenting support guidance (October 2006).
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2007_0020 -
Unicef report on overall child wellbeing - UK last
Unicef report finds the UK last out of 21 industrialised nations on overall child wellbeing
http://www.unicef.org.uk/press/news_detail.asp?news_id=890 -
Every Parent Matters published
Every Parent Matters sets out the Government's policies relating to parents and parenting
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/docbank/index.cfm?id=11184 -
Working for Children strategy on child poverty
DWP publishes Working for Children, a strategy to tackle child poverty by getting more parents into work.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2007/mar/drc024-270307.asp -
Strategy on maternity services
Strategy on maternity services aims to give women more choice
http://tinyurl.com/2y3l2n -
Extension of maternity leave
Paid maternity leave is extended to nine months
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?NewsAreaID=2&ReleaseID=276923 -
Parenting commissioners and parenting support strategies
All local authorities must have a parenting commissioner and parenting support strategy in place -
Treasury funding for disabled children
Treasury review of services for children and young people announces a 340 million settlement for disabled children and their families, mainly for provision of short breaks.
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_58_07.htm -
Review of Health Visitors' role
Department of Health publishes a review of the role of Health Visitors, proposing that they should be leading multi-skilled teams.
http://tinyurl.com/yqjk8x -
Creation of DCSF
In Gordon Brown's first ministerial reshuffle, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is created from the DfES, sharing responsibility for youth justice with the Ministry of Justice -
Green paper proposes getting more parents into work
Green Paper on welfare reform, In work, better off, proposes measures to get more parents into work including reducing the period for which lone parents are entitled to income support.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/in-work-better-off/ -
Youth Taskforce created
DCSF creates new Youth Taskforce to replace the Respect Taskforce.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2007_0178 -
Flexible working for parents - review
The Government sets up a review to determine how the right to request flexible working can be extended to parents of older children.
http://tinyurl.com/dcea2u -
National Academy for Parenting Practitioners launched
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The Children's Plan
The 10 year Children's Plan sets out the Government's ambitions for improving children and young people's lives over the next decade
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/childrensplan/ -
Lone parents - changes in benefits
'Ready for work: full employment in our generation' confirms plans to move lone parents of children over seven onto Jobseeker's Allowance from October 2010
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/readyforwork/ -
Think Family report
The Social Exclusion Task Force's report, Think Family: Improving the life chances of families at risk, calls for a 'Think Family' approach. Family Pathfinders to pilot this are announced.
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/social_exclusion_task_force/families_at_risk.aspx
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/parents/pathfinders/ -
Healthy weight, healthy lives
Strategy aims to tackle obesity in England
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_082378 -
Staying Safe Action Plan
Safeguarding children from harm and appropriate responses to risk
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/resources-and-practice/IG00312/ -
Parent Know-How programme
Launch of the Parent Know-How programme, providing government funding for various helplines and advice websites
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/parents/parentknowhow/ -
Child Health Promotion Programme
The revised Child Health Promotion Programme is launched alongside an expansion of the Family Nurse Partnership pilots.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/DH_083645
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/parents/healthledsupport/ -
Youth Taskforce Action Plan
Focuses on anti-social behaviour, including preventative measures such as family support and investment in youth activities
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/youthmatters/ytf/actionplan/ -
Children's workforce - investment plans announced
Plans for investment in the children's workforce are published alongside details of the implementation of the Children's Plan.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/childrensplan/implement.shtml -
The impact of the commercial world on children's wellbeing
Consultation - Assessing the impact of the commerical world on children's wellbeing - launched
Details of the various consultation documents can be found at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=fullArchiveList&title=Full%20archive%20list&menu=3 -
Consultation on the future of social care
Consultation launched on the future of social care leading up to a Green Paper in 2009
http://www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk/ -
Aiming high for disabled children
Measures to improve services to disabled children announced, focusing on provision of short breaks.
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/resources-and-practice/IG00323/ -
Youth Alcohol Action Plan
Includes measures aimed at parents of young people who drink.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/publications/youthalcohol/ -
New national strategy for carers
"Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities: a caring system on your side, a life of your own" published
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/publicationsandstatistics/publications/publicationspolicyandguidance/DH_085345 -
Parenting Fund
Additional funding announced
http://www.familyandparenting.org/press?sftext=parenting+fund -
Young Runaways Action Plan
Aims to improve services for young runaways and their families.
http://tinyurl.com/c9nlma -
Byron review action plan published
Deals with the risks to children from exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/byronreview/ -
C4EO launched
Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services launched to identify and coordinate local, regional and national evidence of 'what works', to create a single and comprehensive picture of effective practice in delivering children's services, and using this information, offers support to local authorities and their Children's Trust partners, working with them to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families. -
Youth Crime Action Plan
Sets out a strategy for youth justice and family interventions.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/youth-crime-action-plan/ -
Early Years Foundation Stage
Comes into force in all childcare settings.
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/eyfs/ -
Parenting Fund 3rd round funding announced
Department for Children, Schools and Families announces a 16 million cash injection as part of the third round of the Parenting Fund
http://www.familyandparenting.org/press?sftext=parenting+fund -
Sex and Relationships Education Review
Government response to the Review Steering Group says Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) will become a compulsory part of the curriculum from ages 5 to 16
http://tinyurl.com/dksfms -
Children and Adult Mental Health Services Review
Final report of the Review sets out recommendations to government for improving these services
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/CAMHSreview/ -
Education and Skills Act 2008
Raises the age for leaving education or training to 17 from 2013 and to 18 from 2015
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2008/ukpga_20080025_en_1 -
End to child poverty by 2020
Legislation is announced in the Queen's speech to commit to ending child poverty by 2020 -
Welfare reform
A White Paper on welfare reform, 'Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future', confirms plans for a single out-of-work benefit, with plans including obligations for lone parents of children under seven to prepare for work.
www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/raisingexpectations/ -
First national play strategy
Sets out plans to improve and develop play facilities for children throughout the country
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/play/ -
The Children's Plan one year on
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2020 Children and Young People's Workforce Strategy
Sets out plans for the development of the workforce. A new Expert Group on Children's Workforce Policy is announced
www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/deliveringservices/childrenandyoungpeoplesworkforce -
Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) Action
Government action plan following the Bercow review of services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/slcnaction/
