The Learning Exchange Library

Fight for survival    This news item (23 November 2010) expresses the dilemma that many organisations offering services for children and young people face in a Big Society world.

The dramatic results of early intervention   With a review of early intervention schemes now underway, this article and video take a look at their impact and how they are being invested in.

The age of austerity in children’s services   If you scroll down the page, you will find two telling case studies, one about Total Place in Birmingham and the other on the Breaking the Cycle project in Scotland.

Backing the Future    This September 2009 report puts forward the economic and social case for transforming the way we invest in the future of society through our children. From the New Economics Foundation and Action for Children.

Early Intervention: Good Parents, Great Kids, Better Citizens   A jointly-written argument for early intervention being integrated into all national and local policies and on-the-ground action, across the board and across parties. Authors are Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP and Graham Allen MP, Labour member for Nottingham North. (Published jointly by the Centre for Social Justice and The Smith Institute, 2008).

Early Intervention - Early messages from effective local practice 'call for evidence'   A paper summarising local early intervention practice validated as excellent or deemed promising. The paper has been compiled by the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services (C4EO) and the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) in response to their the joint call for effective practice from ADCS and C4EO. It highlights the early messages from an analysis of these initial case studies.

Interview with Helen Dent, chief executive of Family Action   Has there been "initiative-itis" in the past few years? Dent urges ministers to build on existing practice, not start afresh.

Supporting Families in the Foundation Years   This recently released government document summarises the Government's vision for the foundation years, as well as providing the Government's response to: Rt Hon Frank Field MP's review, The Foundation Years: Preventing poor children becoming poor adults; Graham Allen MP's report Early intervention: the next steps - an independent report to Her Majesty’s Government and Early Intervention: Smart Investment, Massive Savings; and Dame Clare Tickell's report The Early Years: Foundations for Life, Health and Learning.

Tackling inequality through character building   Nobel prize winner James Heckman argues that developing character skills rather than cognitive skills during early years and puberty has the most important bearing on a child's future.

Grasping the nettle: early intervention for children, families and communities   C4EO's report on the challenges and opportunities of early intervention, based on effective local, national and international practice.

We can't afford to wait until they reach school age   Frank Field MP, head of the Independent Review on Poverty and Life Chances, gives his opinion on how to help disadvantaged children.