Beverley Hughes demands parenting revolution at academy launch

Children’s minister Beverley Hughes called for a revolution in the way that public services engage with parents at yesterday’s official launch of the world’s first academy for parenting practitioners.

The National Academy for Parenting Practitioners has been set up to carry out research and vocational training, spread best practice and influence parenting policy. The institution, established by charities Parenting UK and National Family and Parenting Institute and King’s College London, aims to increase the number of people working with parents, said NAPP chief executive Angela Sibson.

Hughes said “there was no doubt in my mind” that the academy’s creation was “necessary” as parenting had become even more difficult with a rise in working mothers and lone parents and shrinking family units.

Research carried out by YouGov for NAPP in September highlighted that one-fifth of parents surveyed said there were not enough parenting services available in their area, and just under a quarter had to wait up to a month to access these services. However, 52% of respondents said they did not think parenting services were necessary and only 12% of people surveyed had used these services. 

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