Speakeasy: a UK-wide initiative raising parents' confidence and ability to talk about sex and relationships with their children

Abstract

The FPA Speakeasy parent course is a UK initiative with the aim of helping parents to talk with their children about sex and relationships. The nationally accredited course is delivered in a variety of community settings and supports parents to be more confident, knowledgeable and open in talking about a range of matters relating to sex and relationships. The analysis of parents' pre-course and post-course questionnaires shows a significant increase in self-reported confidence and knowledge amongst parents attending Speakeasy courses. In addition, a series of annual interviews over the previous four years (among a sub-sample of these parents) reveal a similar reported growth in confidence, knowledge and openness amongst those who undertook the course in 2005. These interviews obtained reports of repeated occasions where parents' learning has been ‘put into practice’ through reactive and proactive conversations. At a time when there is increased recognition of parents as partners with schools in the delivery of sex and relationships education and the place of the family as providing the context for crucial early learning, the Speakeasy course is seen as a successful means of increasing parents' knowledge and skills to fulfil this role. Whilst acknowledging the limitations of the research to date, the paper discusses future developments to the evaluation methods and design and outlines implications for practice and policy.

Notes

^2. Throughout this evaluation, the term parents has been used as a shorthand to include mothers, fathers and other adults with responsibility for a child, including those caring for looked-after children.

^1. Further aims are to provide a step towards further learning or professional development for traditionally excluded groups of parents, and for health and educational professionals to give higher priority to work with parents and carers, with the backing of accredited Speakeasy training. Results from these are not the focus of this paper, but are available from the author.

^3. Services where children under five years old and their families can receive integrated support and information.