Parents are increasingly encountering unverified advice from social media influencers, prompting calls for more reliable community support to assist families during early childhood development, the schools minister has said. Speaking at the launch of the National Parentkind Survey 2026, Georgia Gould highlighted the challenges parents face in navigating conflicting information online.

Gould pointed to the proliferation of parenting influencers on platforms such as Instagram, emphasizing the importance of accessible, credible sources of support within local communities. “Having really legitimate places to find that support and having places in the community that you can go to, and peer support, matters so much,” she remarked.

Schools have reported rising numbers of reception-age children arriving with increased needs, including speech and language delays, difficulties with emotional regulation and concentration, as well as incomplete toilet training. In response, Gould underscored the role of government interventions in providing families with essential backing. She cited Labour’s proposed ban on social media use for under-16s and new screen time guidance for early years, introduced under Sir Keir Starmer’s government, as measures aimed at supporting healthier development.

Drawing from her experience as a parent and former local government official, Gould addressed efforts to rebuild early-years community networks that were weakened following the dismantling of Sure Start centres. She noted the expansion of Best Start Family Hubs as a government initiative intended to restore vital infrastructure for families. “One of the biggest heartbreaks I found when I was in local government was watching the Sure Start infrastructure be pulled apart,” she said.

The National Parentkind Survey, which collected responses from 6,053 parents of school-age children, revealed disparities in how supported different groups feel by authorities. Notably, white working-class parents reported a low level of engagement, with only 8 percent feeling that the government listens to them and 34 percent disagreeing that their local authority or academy trust takes their views into account.

Gould also referenced a previous project in Camden aimed at reducing educational attainment gaps among disadvantaged pupils. She noted that white British children receiving free school meals exhibited a 30 percent attainment gap, which the project attributed in part to negative parental experiences with education systems, a lack of confidence, and feelings of being marginalized. Community workers engaged parents outside traditional school settings, involving them in designing tailored support. Gould described the initiative’s outcomes as profoundly positive, with some parents ultimately obtaining qualifications themselves.

The minister’s comments suggest a continued government focus on strengthening community resources and regulating digital environments to better support parents and children during critical early years.