Supporting young parents and their children involves providing information, advice and guidance through one to one support and advocacy, and small group work where appropriate, to young parents, up to the age of 19. The main aim is to provide young parents of the opportunities available to them, so they can make informed choices about their options about their future well being. This work is primarily delivered through the Office of Children and Young People Services’ Locality Teams and Children’s Centres, in conjunction with other specific services aimed at young parents.

Support is available for school-aged pupils who become pregnant or who are mothers so that they can be maintained within statutory (Education Access to Education for Pregnant Schoolgirls and School Aged Parents Policy and Practice Guidance in Cambridgeshire - see summary on left hand side) and be helped to access post-16 learning opportunities. In a similar way, services promote post-16 opportunities for education and training to pregnant young women and to young mothers through working with F.E. providers, work based learning providers, the voluntary and community sector.

The Care to Learn initiative offers support with childcare costs, for those young parents who wish to return to education. If a young parent is under 20 years old and chooses to study, they are entitled to childcare support from Care to Learn of up to £160 a week. Locality teams and Children’s Centres can offer support to young parents through this process www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn
 
Resources and support are also available from Locality Teams and Children’s Centres around pregnancy, benefits, support services specifically for young parents, working with young fathers, sexual health, childcare options, housing, domestic violence and teenage parental rights.

All support for young parents should:

• Ensure that the welfare of the child and young parent is paramount
• Be an integral part of ongoing work and not the subject of one-off interventions
• Be inclusive and respect diversity
• Encourage the development of personal skills and attitudes that empower young parents to make informed decisions
• Help young people access appropriate services
• Provide opportunities to challenge attitudes and values in a positive environment

For more information please contact us on
OCYPS.webmaster@cambridgeshire.gov.uk