CYP(3) PAP 08
Children and Young People Committee
Inquiry into Parenting Action Plan
Response from Family Planning Association
Family Planning Association is the UK’s leading sexual health charity, working to enable people across the UK to make informed decisions about sex and to enjoy their sexual health free from oppression, exploitation or physical or emotional harm. fpa wants to see a society with open and positive attitudes to sex, in which everyone enjoys sexual health and where sexual and reproductive rights are respected.
Family Planning Association runs Speakeasy, a community based sex and relationships education programme for parents and carers across the UK, including in Cardiff and the surrounding area.
Speakeasy is a group-based programme which enables parents and carers to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to talk to their children about sex and relationships. It is designed to be fun and relaxed, providing an atmosphere where parents can learn together from their own experiences. It is locally organised and can link with education, community and/or health services in a particular area. An overview of a typical Speakeasy programme is included in appendix 1.
Independent evaluation of Speakeasy has found that the programme significantly improves parents’ confidence and knowledge around sex and relationships. In particular, before the course 60.9 per cent of parents agreed or agreed strongly with the statement 'I feel able to talk to my children openly about sex’. After the course this had risen to 95.5 per cent. Longitudinal analysis has also shown that the impact of Speakeasy is long-lasting with parents still feeling confident to talk openly to their children several years after completing the programme.
We have restricted the following comments to our areas of expertise.
Progress with the Parenting Action Plan
Family Planning Association welcomed the publication of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Parenting Action Plan because we recognise the role parents play in their children’s development. We welcomed the specific investment and focus on activities to support parents to give their children the best start in life.
The Parenting Action Plan recognised that parents can often find it difficult to talk to their children about sex and relationships. The Plan included a commitment from the Welsh Assembly Government to produce and disseminate, by the end of March 2008, a booklet on talking to children and young people about sex and relationships (paragraph 3.16).
Family Planning Association is not aware that this booklet has been produced. Although our Speakeasy programme in Wales currently only operates in Cardiff and the surrounding area, our work includes not only direct contact with parents who we would expect to be the intended audience for the booklet, but also direct contact with parenting professionals and other professionals who work with families, who we would expect to be involved in the dissemination of a booklet.
Research has shown that children and young people from families in which sex and relationships are openly discussed are more likely to delay the age at which they first have sex, have fewer sexual partners and use contraception when they do have sex. There is also evidence that children and young people want to talk to their parents about sex and relationships and vice versa but both can feel very awkward about doing so.
Future issues for the Parenting Action Plan
Parenting is a developing process and many parents will benefit from advice and support on communicating with their children about sex and relationships. family Palnning Association therefore believes that a booklet for parents about this topic should be produced. We have significant expertise in supporting parents to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to talk to their children about sex and relationships and we would welcome an opportunity to work with the Welsh Assembly Government on this topic.
Family Planning Association Speakeasy programme is currently funded by the Big Lottery Fund and is only available in Cardiff and the surrounding area. By the beginning of June 2008 we had worked with 150 parents by delivering the course in this area. We believe that programmes such as Speakeasy, which support parents to talk to their children about sex and relationships, should be made available across Wales.
A key part of Speakeasy is the training for professionals working with parents to equip them to deliver the programme as part of their work, to date we have trained 20 professionals in Wales. This contributes to the sustainability of Speakeasy and also broadens the reach of the programme. Through the funding we have received through the Big Lottery Fund we have been able to provide this training to professionals who work with parents free of charge. fpa strongly believes that it is vital that the parenting workforce has the appropriate skills to provide parents with comprehensive support and we would like the Welsh Assembly Government to secure access to training for these professionals.
An overview of Speakeasy
Speakeasy offers a flexible and relaxed way to gain greater confidence in an area that can cause embarrassment and awkwardness for parents and carers. Creative methods are used within the groups including collage and artwork, role play and games as well as more traditional written work for those who wish. The emphasis is on making the courses as accessible as possible for those who will benefit.
The main aim of the course is to encourage parents and carers to:
provide positive sex and relationships education in the home
take on the role of 'sex and relationships educator'.
Typical course outline
Week 1
Introductions, Ground Rules, Fears, Hopes and Expectations. Understand the physical and emotional changes boys and girls undergo at puberty.
Week 2
Understand what sex education means in the context of family life.
Week 3
Understand how to respond to the needs of children in relation to sex and relationships education in the context of family life. Learning opportunities and useful resources.
Week 4
Understand social and cultural attitudes towards sex and sexuality as they relate to children. Stereotypes found in the media. Outside pressures upon young people.
Week 5
Understand the different methods of contraception that are available.
Week 6
Understand different sexually transmitted infections and methods for safer sex.
Week 7
Understand strategies for keeping children safe from harm.
Week 8
Understand sex and relationships education in schools, taking account of statutory and non-statutory guidance in education.
The course has specific learning outcomes, but the structure and content of the course are needs-led to meet the particular requirements of each group.
After completing the Speakeasy programme participants will have:
An understanding of the physical and emotional changes taking place at puberty
Awareness of what sex and relationships education means in the context of family life
Confidence and skills in identifying and responding to the needs of their own children
Explored societal and cultural attitudes towards sex and sexuality as it relates to children
Knowledge of the different kinds of contraception that are available
Gained information on sex and relationships education in schools
Gained information and knowledge on child protection strategies.
