Sociology: Civil Partnership

Civil partnership timelines:

Gay

and also here

Make sure you download this

Some parts of this cabinet office document are very useful I think. See page 73 especially.

Some specific "family policies in the last 10 years include:

Single parents - attempts to help them into work

Civil Partnership

Statutory or Contractual Maternity Pay and the right to resume their former job and Statutory maternity leave - increases in both (e.g. 26 week prior to 2007, 52 weeks after).

Maternity Allowance increased payment / length of payment.

Paternity leave (from 2003). Increased payments from 2007

Adoption leave and pay (2005)

Child Support Agency (CSA) reformed / replaced

Childcare Act (2006)

• Integration of early childhood (up to the age of 5) services between local authorities, the NHS and so forth.
• Ensure sufficient childcare for working parents (particularly families on lower incomes or with disabled children).
• Local authorities must secure "a free minimum amount of early learning and care for all 3 and 4 year olds whose parents want it".
• Information about children's services and provisions must be widely disseminated to parents by local authorities.
• Early Years Foundation to integrate "early education and care for children from birth to age 5".
• Registration requirement for "all providers caring for children up to age 5"

Educational Maintenance Allowances (2004)

Free nursery provision for all 3 year olds (2004)

Tax Credits and Benefits: Things like:

Job Seeker's Allowance

Child Tax Credit

Working Tax Credit

Old Age / retirement - changing the starting point.

Pensioners receive some free services (such as a Bus Pass, television licence and help with heating). Home help, district nurse / health visitor, day centre care, social workers and meals-on-wheels

Write all this up as part of your notes...