experiences of a 10-session parenting course and explores the concept of universal classes for every family.
State involvement in how we parent our children has long been a controversial issue.
But the reams of despairing column inches about the standard of the nation's parenting sparked by the 2011 riots gave the government a fresh imperative to overcome the controversy and get stuck in. The result was CANparent, a two-year trial of free parenting courses from spring 2012. All parents of under-fives in Camden, Middlesbrough and High Peak in Derbyshire were offered £100 vouchers for local courses, regardless of their income or circumstances.
David Cameron batted off nanny state accusations at the time by describing parenting courses as a vital part of "nation building", claiming it was "ludicrous" that people needed lessons for driving a car but not for bringing up children.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
