The Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People'sServices (C4EO), a consortium of organisations including the NationalChildren's Bureau, the National Foundation for Educational Research andthe Social Care Institute for Excellence, was launched last week. Itsrole is to create a 'single and comprehensive picture of effectivepractice' focusing on six Every Child Matters themes: early years,disability, vulnerable children, youth, parents, carers and families,and schools and communities.
The early years theme, which will run from this month to March 2010,will explore integrated services, parental support for children'slearning and inclusion/anti-discrimination. It will be led by Sue Owen,director of the Early Childhood Unit at the NCB.
Ms Owen said, 'Scoping studies are getting underway for the theme toassess what evidence and data is available. The work of C4EO willsupport practitioners in two practical ways - first, giving them accessto a knowledge base of 'what works' evidence which has been shown toimprove outcomes, and second, by making an offer of support to localauthorities and their Children's Trust partners to work with them toimprove the delivery of services.'
For each theme, C4EO will gather evidence ranging from academic researchto effective local practice to produce a 'progress map', an interactive,web-based tool, where users can search for information relevant to them.C4EO will also hold regional workshops and events and will have sectorspecialists offering support to local authorities and Children's Trustpartners.
Further information
www.c4Eo.org.uk.
