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Local Programmes (local + programme)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Humanities and Social Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Effects of fully established Sure Start Local Programmes on 3-year-old children and their families living in England: a quasi-experimental observational study

CHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2009
Richard Reading
Effects of fully established Sure Start Local Programmes on 3-year-old children and their families living in England: a quasi-experimental observational study . MelhuishE., BelskyJ., LeylandA. H., BarnesJ. & the National Evaluation of Sure Start Research Team ( 2008 ) The Lancet , 372 , 1641 , 1647 . DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61687-6 . Background Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs) are area-based interventions to improve services for young children and their families in deprived communities, promote health and development, and reduce inequalities. We therefore investigated whether SSLPs affect the well-being of 3-year-old children and their families. Methods In a quasi-experimental observational study, we compared 5883 3-year-old children and their families from 93 disadvantaged SSLP areas with 1879 3-year-old children and their families from 72 similarly deprived areas in England who took part in the Millennium Cohort Study. We studied 14 outcomes , children's immunizations, accidents, language development, positive and negative social behaviours and independence; parenting risk; home-learning environment; father's involvement; maternal smoking, body-mass index and life satisfaction; family's service use; and mother's rating of area. Findings After we controlled for background factors, we noted beneficial effects associated with the programmes for five of 14 outcomes. Children in the SSLP areas showed better social development than those in the non-SSLP areas, with more positive social behaviour (mean difference 0.45, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.80, P = 0.01) and greater independence (0.32, 0.18 to 0.47, P < 0.0001). Families in SSLP areas showed less negative parenting (,0.90, ,1.11 to ,0.69, P < 0.0001) and provided a better home-learning environment (1.30, 0.75 to 1.86, P < 0.0001). These families used more services for supporting child and family development than those not living in SSLP areas (0.98, 0.86 to 1.09, P < 0.0001). Effects of SSLPs seemed to apply to all subpopulations and SSLP areas. Interpretation Children and their families benefited from living in SSLP areas. The contrast between these and previous findings on the effect of SSLPs might indicate increased exposure to programmes that have become more effective. Early interventions can improve the life chances of young children living in deprived areas. [source]

Prevention in integrated children's services: the impact of sure start on referrals to social services and child protection registrations

CHILD ABUSE REVIEW, Issue 1 2007
John Carpenter
Abstract Every Child Matters, the English government's plans for integrated children's services, proposed that preventative approaches such as those developed through Sure Start should be able to reduce the numbers of children requiring more intensive support from children's social services and, by implication, the numbers of children on the child protection register. This study examined the impact of Sure Start local programmes (SSLPs) on four local authorities with social services responsibilities in the northeast of England. The researchers analysed routinely collected statistical data concerning over 10,000 referrals of children under four years and over 1,600 child protection registrations (CPRs) in an eight-year period before and after the introduction of 19 SSLPs. They also analysed interviews with 36 key informants in eight case study SSLP areas. Contrary to expectations, the quantitative data revealed no discernable short-term effect on the numbers of referrals, or on CPRs. Interview data showed broad agreement on the potential impact of preventative work undertaken by SSLPs and many respondents believed that it was too early to draw conclusions. Alternatively, the universal approach to prevention within the Sure Start areas and the attempts to provide non-stigmatising and non-intrusive community-based services may be ineffective in reducing the need for intensive support for ,at risk' families. The findings are discussed in relation to ,targeted' prevention programmes and government policy intentions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

The implications of US experiences with early childhood interventions for the UK Sure Start Programme

CHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2007
R. Gray
Abstract Background, The UK Government introduced a large-scale early childhood intervention programme, Sure Start, in 1999. Sure Start is to be further expanded, to achieve national coverage. US experience is highly relevant for anticipating challenges that this expansion will raise. Methods, This is a focused, narrative review. We examine the impact, funding, quality-improvement and programme objectives of Head Start and Early Head Start programmes. Results, (1) Early childhood interventions can make a significant difference to children's life chances; (2) expansion without adequate funding threatens quality; (3) narrower objectives, which are easier to measure, can crowd out broader objectives, which are difficult to measure; (4) programmes must balance fidelity to the model and flexibility to local conditions; (5) multiple objectives may conflict; and (6) programmes may have differential impacts. We consider the implications of these findings for Sure Start, focusing on funding, quality control and parental involvement. We also consider that the potential Sure Start should offer for tackling health inequalities in early childhood and suggest ways in which this aspect of the Programme could be enhanced. Conclusion, Head Start has been dogged by concerns about quality and effectiveness. Many of these problems stemmed from an over-hasty expansion, which locked the Programme into inadequate funding and uneven project- and staff-quality. These issues have been addressed through large funding increases and more rigorous performance measures. Nevertheless, concerns about the aims of the Programme and the extent of parental involvement in management remain. Current funding for Sure Start appears to be adequate, while systematic evaluation procedures have been built in from its inception. Concerns have been raised about the implications of expansion for funding, quality and for parental involvement in management of local programmes. US experience shows that these are centrally important issues and that, if they are not addressed early on, they can take many years to rectify. [source]