PROVIDERS of family services need to make special provision for dads if they want to keep improving children's welfare, the Oxfordshire Parenting Forum (OPF) has said.

A study published today following two years of outreach work specifically with fathers in Oxfordshire has shown that men are more likely to engage in services providing men-only activities or activities that appealed to them such as dads' parenting skills talks, outdoor bushcraft and First Aid classes.

In 2011 the Oxfordshire county average for children's centres reaching all fathers with a child under five years old was 15.9 per cent.

By 2014 this had risen to 26.36 per cent but between April 2015 and March 2016 the figure had dropped for the first time, back to 23.53 per cent.

The report's creators believe this is due to funding cuts and on the whole Oxfordshire is a "hotbed" of father-inclusive activity.

OPF analysed a range of services in the county that adopted gender-differentiated practices in order to reach out to fathers, including 'Man Enough' parenting skills programmes, the 'Disco Dadz' dance sessions in deprived parts of Oxford, and camp-outs and fun days organised by the Sovereign Housing Association.

Chairman Chris Sewell said: "The report's aim was to assess the landscape of fathers work in the county and identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for further development. Early signs are that the county council is taking the findings of the report very seriously and they will be given full and sympathetic conseration."