Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Best Start Family Hubs on levels of father’s parenting skills.

​​Ensuring every child has the best start in life, the chance to achieve and to thrive, are the foundation stones of the government’s Opportunity Mission.

Best Start Family Hubs are backed by £500 million government investment and we have committed to rolling out hubs in all local authorities by 2028. They are expected to actively engage and support fathers through inclusive parenting support, peer networks and outreach. They must ensure services are accessible to dads, and others who are less likely to engage. Programme guidance sets specific expectations around the inclusion of dads in parenting and home learning environment programmes, infant feeding and perinatal mental health activities. Local authorities are encouraged to provide tailored groups for fathers and co-parents, both in person and virtually, to strengthen their involvement in early parenting and child development.

​Many local authorities have established a strong offer for dads as part of their Family Hub models. We intend to maintain this focus on dads, and other seldom heard groups, in the new Best Start Family Hub programme.