The report by the National Family and Parenting Institute (NFPI), called Making Britain Family Friendly, published to coincide with this week's National Parents' Week, is based on findings from a MORI poll of 1,400 parents carried out on behalf of the NFPI.
More than half the parents questioned thought the Government had failed to consider the needs of families and children. Most thought a society where a culture of acceptance and tolerance was fostered towards children and young people was more important than increased financial support or legislation.
The report's author, Gill Keep, NFPI project director, said, 'What emerges strongly from the report is that while most families like where they live, parents, children and young people still feel unwelcome and undervalued in their own community.'
The report found after-school clubs and holiday playschemes to be high on the list of what parents deemed as family-friendly services, while more than a third of parents believed the most important change in policy would be the right to flexible working. Parents also wanted the Government to recognise the importance of informal childcare networks, such as family and friends.
Ms Keep said, 'Parents want the choice about when and how they work and when and how they use childcare.'
The report found evidence that parents with young children in particular were 'pulling against the tide' of the Government drive to get parents back to work. Ms Keep said, 'Room has to be found in Government policy to respect those parents and not to penalise them financially, if they choose to prioritise raising their children in their early years.'
However, the report found progress had been made in working parents' rights since the last NFPI survey of family life in 2000. Maternity leave and maternity pay had been increased, and fathers had gained the right to two weeks' paid paternity leave.
The NFPI has launched a ten-year 'family friendly campaign' to lobby for more changes in policy and practice to coincide with National Parents'
Week, which runs until 26 October. For details, see www.nfpi.org.
