Updates

Standing up for England's Parents

On 9 June 2003, the Sure Start Unit within the Department for Education and Skills published a consultation document on Childcare Standards and Regulations in England. While the Unit claimed that its proposals constitute only "minor changes" to the national standards for under 8s childcare, in reality they represented a radical change in the government's attitude towards parents and had considerable implications for families throughout the country. Families First produced a guide to help those responding to this consultation. July 2003 >More [PDF]

Protecting parents from pointless prosecution

Ever since the Scottish Executive announced that it was to use the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill to change the law on the physical correction of children, the proposals have been surrounded by controversy. When the bill was first published, Section 43 proposed to designate any physical punishment of a child as an "unjustifiable assault" if the child was under the age of three, or if the punishment included or consisted of a blow to the head, shaking, or the use of an implement. February 2003 >More [PDF]

Scottish Executive proposals on physical punishment of children

Scottish Executive proposals on physical punishment of children place children and families at risk. The Executive's criminal justice White Paper, Making Scotland Safer: Improving the Criminal Justice System, included amongst its legislative proposals some extremely controversial measures which would criminalise many loving parents in Scotland. February 2002 >More [PDF]

Protecting Northern Ireland's Families

A guide to responding to "Physical punishment in the home - thinking about the issues, looking at the evidence" - the Northern Ireland consultation paper on the Physical Punishment of Children. January 2002 >More [PDF]

Newsletter - Autumn 2001

UK News and Developments: Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland.
A European perspective.
Briefing on Scottish proposals
National Family & Parenting Institute.
Effects of smacking ban in Sweden.
News in brief: Christian Fellowship School; New Global Initiative; UN on violence in the family; Childminding in Wales; UN on Finland. >More [PDF]

Newsletter - Spring 2000

Opinion
The Children are Unbeatable campaign: Aims and claims; Methods; Dissenters.
Family Focus: A Scottish family's experience.
Discipline in Schools: Application to Europe; Diary of events.
Review: Fight for the Family (revised).
News in brief: Private foster care; Need a Nanny?; Media Opportunities; Oklahoma USA; Lord Jakobovits. >More [PDF]

Home • News • Updates • Press Releases • Articles • Briefing Papers • Responses to Consultations • Other Sites • Press Page • In Parliament • Contact Us • Top