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Children: Parenting

Answer

We strongly believe that mothers and fathers, working together, are the best people to make arrangements about their children's lives. We are putting children at the heart of the process, so that their needs are the paramount concern in all family law proceedings. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) came into force in September 2008 and is clear that all providers have a responsibility to ensure that diversity of individuals and communities is valued and respected and that no child or family is discriminated against. The reformed EYFS, which will come into force in September 2012, will provide similar assurances. It will also make clear that providers must have the name and address of every parent and carer who is known to the provider (and information about any other person who has parental responsibility for the child) and which parent(s) or carer(s) the child normally lives with. Maintained schools should, wherever possible, ensure that they record the contact details of both parents, even when a parent no longer lives with the child. This is not a matter left to the discretion of individual schools. Under relevant education legislation, parents (including those with parental responsibility or who have care of the child) must receive specified statutory information about their child. We also intend to introduce into the Children Act 1989 a legislative statement of the importance of children having a relationship with both their parents after separation, where that is safe and in the child's best interests.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

16643; 736 c304-5WA

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Family proceedings Parents Pre-school education Schools Family Justice Review

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk