The Government has been clear in its response to the riots that we won't take any knee-jerk actions. But as a society we need to ask ourselves some difficult questions. In my role as children's minister, this is about considering what we are doing to support strong, stable families so every child can flourish.
These issues were brought into sharp focus by a recent report from UNICEF on inequalities and materialism in the UK. This report showed some worrying themes among UK families - parents feeling under pressure and worried about parenting; families struggling to find time to spend together; and children, especially the most disadvantaged, caught in a trap of consumerism.
While it's not the Government's job to interfere in family life, we do have a role in making sure families are supported and that all children have the opportunities to develop and reach their full potential.
As practitioners working with young children, you are at the forefront of this work. Research published in July highlighted the importance of supporting parents in their child's development. It also said there was scope to improve awareness among the workforce of engaging with parents about early home learning. The slimmed down, more focused Early Years Foundation Stage will help practitioners to do this.
TRIAL FOR PARENTING CLASSES
We know that strong, confident parenting makes the biggest difference to a child's development. But for many parents, the first years can be the toughest period. Around three-quarters of mothers and fathers say they want more information and support in their parenting.
That's why we will shortly be trialling parenting classes in selected areas for mothers and fathers of children aged 0-five. We want to de-stigmatise parenting classes and build a market in better parenting support for those who want it. We know this type of support can help parents better communicate with their children, encourage good behaviour, and prevent problems later on. More broadly, the Government is committed to helping families get the right balance between work and family life. That's why we are extending parental leave and making it more flexible, and are consulting on ways to extend flexible working so both parents can play an active role in their child's upbringing.
TWO-YEAR-OLDS ON TARGET
But the home environment is only part of the jigsaw. High-quality early education is central to helping children develop well. It's also one of the best ways we can tilt the balance back in favour of those children who have for too long been consigned to fail.
From 2013 all disadvantaged two-year-olds will benefit from free early education, and I announced last month that we will consult shortly on using eligibility criteria which match those for free school meals. In addition, I want every looked-after child - some of the most vulnerable in our society - to benefit from this free entitlement.
IMPROVING CHILDREN'S CENTRES
While families use a range of providers, including nurseries, to take up their two-year-olds' free entitlement, many will access it through their local Sure Start Children's Centre. Over the summer, we consulted on the core purpose of children's centres. We will publish a final version shortly which has a greater focus on improving outcomes, particularly for the most disadvantaged, reducing inequalities in child development, supporting parents, and improving family health. We want the best children's centres and nursery schools to share their expertise and help to develop the workforce. That's why we have given funding to Pen Green to support 16 new teaching centres. The National College and Pen Green will work with these teaching centres to help raise standards and improve children's outcomes.
Looking ahead, we will soon publish more details on Cathy Nutbrown's review of early years qualifications and will consult on the revised Code of Practice for the free entitlement. I encourage everyone with an interest to respond to the consultation.
Finally, I want to say how much we value the sector's expertise in what works on the ground. We will continue to work closely with you, through our partner groups, to develop policy that equips every child with the skills they need to start school as happy, confident individuals.