Parenting

I've become increasingly convinced that parenting (good, bad and indifferent) is the key to children's development. Those early months in the womb and the early years at home are absolutely critical - even if some of that care is delivered other than by the parents.

Taking the behavioural issues only, very young children learn at a huge rate, and the environment in which they learn shapes the whole of the rest of their lives.

Only yesterday it was reported that Bruce Perry, a world expert in ADHD, has said that ADHD is not a child-specific illness or condition, but a set of symptoms where the 'treatment' is often to help the parents.

So in some ways I support the proposed legislation that will criminalise neglect. Too many children suffer from neglect but are not close to social care thresholds. The important point is that parliament will be giving a message that neglect is not acceptable, and the debates while the legislation is going though will raise general awareness. But I don't want to criminalise parents – I want them to improve how they parent, where that is inadequate.

Parents who neglect their children need very much more than sanctions, be they criminal or civil, or simply the taking of children into care. Parent education is critical, and parent support is critical, and we don't do enough of either. Social workers are increasingly pressed, with ever-greater caseloads, schools and early years providers have neither the time nor the expertise to work with parents on these issues, and neither has the health service.

The lack of commitment to children's centres by the present coalition government is shameful. The dismantling of multi-agency support for parents who need it is the mark of a Secretary of State for Education, a Chancellor of the Exchequer, and a Local Government and Communities Secretary, who together just don't see the value of joined-up services. Michael Gove, in his obsession with schools and examinations, has spitefully dismantled all the great work done by Ed Balls and his predecessors.

So I am pleased that something is reversing the trend, even if it is based on sanctions not support – but let's continue to argue strongly and loudly for support, not sanctions, for our most vulnerable parents and children.

John Freeman CBE is a former director of children's services and is now a freelance consultant