The government's failure to provide adequate levels of support for parents during pregnancy and a child's first year is undermining financial initiatives to tackle childhood inequalities, a leading independent thinktank has warned, writes Amy Taylor.
A report from the Institute for Public Policy Research said that government measures such as the baby tax credit and child tax credit are being undermined by ministers' failures to make provision of emotional and social support to parents with young children a priority.
"Fearful of being branded as a 'nanny state', Labour has been too cautious on family policy,” said report author Lisa Harker. Co-author Liz Kendall added that, at present, most parenting programmes were for parents of children who already had behavioural difficulties.
In order to improve support levels, the report recommends that health visitors and midwives take on a more holistic approach, moving away from purely monitoring children's health into providing social and emotional support to parents. It also recommends the creation of a home visitor service providing parents with an 'on your side' advocate.
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