Background ‘universal provision’

The ‘Every child Matters’ agenda envisages the provision of ‘universal’ as well as ‘targeted’ services to children and their parents, including ‘parenting education groups’ and ‘couple support’. Hospitals and schools, to police and voluntary groups - will be teaming up in new ways, sharing information and working together’. talk2me enables schools and other agencies to contribute ‘information, advice and signposting to other services [such as mentoring] to all parents both mothers and fathers so that all children can benefit from confident, positive and resilient parenting. Because talk2me is an Internet service and a wide range of suitably qualified people can register to be administrators. Access to support can be found in places where and ways in which parents and carers feel comfortable such as: early years settings, schools, primary healthcare services; and through childcare information services, telephone helplines and web based information’.