Recommended reading
Parenting policy
Parenting Support: Guidance for Local Authorities in England
Department for Children, Schools and Families.
In October 2006, the Department for Children, Schools and Families produced Parenting Support: Guidance for Local Authorities in England. This aimed to support local authorities and children's trusts in developing a continuum of support for parents.
Every Parent Matters
Department for Children, Schools and Families.
This report was published in 2007 by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. It sets out government policies and plans for the development of services relating to parents and their children.
Developing a Local Parenting Strategy
Parenting UK.
This offers practical guidance for setting up services. It was published in 2005.
Parenting education and support
Barrett, H., Parenting Programmes for Families at Risk: A Source Book,
National Family and Parenting Institute, 2003.
Defines families at risk of parenting, their characteristics and examines the approaches used in parenting programmes. Includes a compilation of systematic reviews - published between 1995 and 2003.
Bowlby, R., Sroufe, A. and Schore, A., Attachment video, R. Bowlby, 2001.
A video for use as a training tool for people working with families. Covers: Attachment - Origins of social and antisocial behaviour; Attachment and brain development; Disrupted attachment and violence.
DfES Children's Services, Review of Capacity in the Parenting Support Market: Final Report, PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2006.
Looks at the key barriers to development of the parenting support market in England. Includes support offered in children's centres and extended schools. Provides recommendations on funding, training and guidance, and setting performance targets.
Einzig, H., Parenting Education and Support: A Brief Overview, Family Support Network, 1998.
Discusses the nature of parenting education and support and its underlying principles. Gives examples of different approaches, in particular, the group work approach.
Ghate, D. and Heal, H., Parenting in Poor Environments: Stress, Support and Coping, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2002.
The findings of a large national study of parents living in poor environments looking at how such parents were being supported, and where the need for further support and help might lie.
Grimshaw, R. and McGuire, C., Evaluating Parenting Programmes: A Study of Stakeholders' Views, National Childrens Bureau, 1998.
Examines the views of stakeholders in parenting programmes: those who fund and provide them; parents who attend them and those who, for various reasons, do not; and children themselves.
Henricson, C., Government and parenting: Is there a case for a policy review and a parents' code?, National Family Parenting Institute / Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2003.
An examination of current parental rights and responsibilities in relation to financial support and the physical and emotional care and control of children.
Lloyd, E., Parenting Matters: What Works in Parenting Support?, Barnardos, 1999.
Examines parenting education on relationship and parenting skills for parents and carers, illustrated with examples of good practice in research from the UK and USA. Describes a systematic review of research in to parenting education.
Moran, P., Ghate, D. and Van Der Merwe, A., What Works in Parenting Support? A Review of the International Evidence, DfES, 2004.
This is a summary of a review of the international evidence regarding the effectiveness of parenting support programmes, Programmes were sorted into four categories: 'what works', 'what is promising', 'what does not work', and those in which effectiveness is 'not known'.
National Family and Parenting Institute, Listening to Parents: Their worries, their solutions, National Family and Parenting Institute, 2001.
The final report of a study, conducted by MORI, which aimed to understand the main concerns which parents have about family life and parenting.
Nolan, M. (ed.), Education and Support for Parenting, Bailliere Tindall, 2002.
Brings together the expertise of experienced practitioners, exploring the skills needed to support parents working from the basic skills of adult education. Includes chapters on parenthood education in schools.
Olsen, R. and Clarke, H., Parenting and Disability: Disabled Parents' Experiences of Raising Children, Policy Press, 2003.
The results of a research project funded by the Department of Health as part of its Supporting Parents' research programme. It examines the views of parents and children in 75 families who were not particular service-users but were defined only by their status as disabled parents.
Quinton, D., Supporting Parents: Messages from Research, Jessica Kingsley, 2004.
Explores the range of supports that parents find effective and how those supports might be improved or better mobilised.
Roker, D. and Coleman, J., Working with Parents of Young People: Research, Policy and Practice, Jessica Kingsley, 2007.
Provides guidance for a range of professionals working with parents and families, answering common questions such as 'How can parents facilitate their child's transition to secondary school?' and 'How can families best communicate about alcohol?'.
Smith, C., Developing Parenting Programmes, National Children's Bureau/Enterprises, 1997.
Presents the findings of a survey of group-based parenting programmes. Assesses the range of programmes available, which agencies provide them, who has access to them, and what kind of materials are used.
Utting, D., Monteiro, H. and Ghate, D., Interventions for children at risk of developing antisocial personality disorder, Policy Research Bureau, 2007.
Review commissioned by the Department of Health and the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit. Examines the evidence on: The Incredible Years; Triple P; Nurse-Family Partnership Programme; multisystemic therapy (MST); Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care; and Functional Family Therapy.
Wolfendale, S. and Einzig, H. (eds.), Parenting Education and Support: New Opportunities, David Fulton Publishers, 1999.
A collection of papers that provides an extensive overview of current thinking and practice in the area of parenting education and support and also highlights emerging ideas and directions in which practice could evolve.
Reading for researchers
The following texts are more likely to be of interest to academic researchers but can be viewed by non-academics. However they may involve either subscribing to an academic journal or paying a one-off fee to view the text. Researchers can also download an extensive reading list from this site in PDF format.
White, C., Warrener, M., Reeves, A. and La Valle, I. (2008) Family Intervention Projects: An Evaluation of their Design, Set-up and Early Outcomes. National Centre for Social Research.
Barlow, J. (1999) Systematic review of the effectiveness of parent-training programmes in improving behaviour problems in children aged 3-10 years (2nd Ed): a review of the literature on parent-training programmes and child behaviour outcome measures. Health Services Research Unit, University of Oxford.
Bodenmann, G. et. al. (2008) The efficacy of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program in improving parenting and child behaviour: A comparison with two other treatment conditions. Behaviour Research and Therapy 46: 411-427.
Hall, L., Evans, L. and Wreford, S. (2008) Education-Related Parenting Contracts Evaluation. TNS Social.
Puckering, C., Rogers, J., Mills, M., Cox, A. D. and Mattsson-Graff, M. (1994) Process and evaluation of a group intervention for mothers with parenting difficulties. Child Abuse Review 3: 299-310.
Sanders, M. R., Markie-Dadds, C., Tully, L. A. and Bor, W. (2000) The Triple P-Positive Parenting Program: a comparison of enhanced, standard and self-directed behavioral family intervention for parents of children with early onset conduct problems.
Scott, S. (2004) Parent training programmes in child and adolescent psychiatry (4th Ed). Blackwell Publishing Ltd., Oxford.
Serketich, W. J. and Dumas, J. E. (1996) The effectiveness of behavioral parent training to modify antisocial behavior in children: a meta-analysis. Journal of Behavior Therapy 27: 171-186.
Webster-Stratton C. and Herbert, M. (1994) Troubled families - problem children. Working with parents: a collaborative process. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester.