Executive summary
There is clear evidence that good parenting is crucial to a child’s development and to their future life chances. In 2018, the Coventry Parenting Steering group (which includes key partners across statutory and non-statutory agencies) was set up to coordinate our approach to parenting, sharing our resources, knowledge, and experience to review current parenting provision and highlight recommendations for future parenting support. Partners have been instrumental in the implementation of the previous strategy and the work on the refresh.
The Coventry Parenting Strategy (2024 -2027) builds on the previous Coventry Parenting Strategy (2018-2023). This strategy offers an opportunity to galvanise partners further to enable better outcomes for children and families through offering parenting support. In the development of this strategy, the multi-agency Coventry Parenting Steering Group aimed to raise the level of awareness about the importance and impact of parenting support on children and young people's outcomes. A consultation was held with key stakeholders. Partners reviewed the current parenting support which demonstrated that Coventry has a large number of evidence-based parenting programmes and services on offer. There are also several locally grown parenting programmes which assist in meeting the diverse needs of the city.
A consultation with parents and carers was also completed. 220 responses were received. Parents and carers were asked about missing help or support or what could have been better; mental health for mother and baby was cited by 36% (46) of parents and carers. Children and young people's mental health was also mentioned by 36% (46) and partner's mental health was highlighted by 27% (35) responses. Other areas reported included child's behaviour 30% (39) and toilet training 28% (36). A focus group was held with young people to capture views about what good parenting looks like. Young people mentioned the importance of healthy communications across and within the family. Young people reported the importance of emotional support, listening and understanding as well as a desire to set family boundaries.
The Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme have provided additional investment into the city to enhance the universal Family Hub offer and strengthen parenting support further. The Coventry Parenting Strategy (2024-27) references interconnectivity to help ensure a One Coventry approach is taken to support children, young people and families.
Key priorities
Areas for improvements and key recommendations have been identified, bringing together the views of parents, carers and stakeholders and the evidence. Key priorities include:
- Improve information and advice - working with parents and carers to ensure relevant up-to-date and timely parenting information and advice is available.
- Improve accessibility - to ensure parents and carers have support available and accessible through a variety of methods to suit their needs.
- Workforce development - to coordinate and deliver training and professional development to parenting practitioners and those delivering parenting support in the city.
- Reduce Health Inequalities - to ensure that the system-wide parenting offer is delivered in a way which progressively provides more support across the social gradient and level of need.
- Strengthen Targeted Parenting support - to ensure vulnerable families are engaged with core services.