National Evaluation of Sure Start
Project overview
The National Evaluation of Sure Start (NESS) was conducted by a group led by Professor Edward Melhuish at Birkbeck, University of London.
The evaluation, funded by the government’s Sure Start Unit within the Department for Education, was conducted from 2001 until 2012.
Sure Start was designed as a way to reduce inequalities and the impact of disadvantage, by promoting early child development and parenting in the most disadvantaged areas. The Sure Start programmes were designed to be two-generational; non-stigmatizing, multifaceted (i.e., not only health, or education or parent support), locally managed and culturally appropriate.
Research aims and outcomes
The National Evaluation, focussing on the first 260 Sure Start programmes, had five aims:
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Research aim 1
- The first research aim was to examine the nature of the communities in which the programmes were located and to document change over time (Local Context Analysis).
- The outcomes from this research were:
- Local context analysis summary
- National evaluation of Sure Start. Local context analysis methodological report
- Characteristics of Sure Start local programme areas: rounds 1 to 4
- Characteristics of Sure Start local programmes 2001-2002
- Changes in the characteristics of Sure Start local programme areas – 2000-2001 to 2002-2003
- Change in the characteristics of Sure Start local programme areas in rounds 1 to 4 between 2000-2001 and 2003-2004
- Changes in the characteristics of Sure Start local programme areas in rounds 1 to 4 between 2000-2001 and 2004-2005
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Research aim 2
- The second research aim was to examine ways in which the programmes were delivered and study a number of themes related to delivery (Implementation).
- The outcomes from this research were:
- Implementation module of the national evaluation of Sure Start
- Implementation study methodology report
- Buildings in Sure Start local programmes
- Early experiences of implementing Sure Start
- Empowering parents in Sure Start local programmes
- Fathers in Sure Start
- Getting Sure Start started
- Improving the employability of parents in Sure Start local programmes
- Implementing Sure Start local programmes: An in-depth study
- Implementing Sure Start local programmes: An integrated overview of the first four years
- Maternity services provision in Sure Start local programmes
- Outreach and home visiting services in Sure Start local programmes
- The quality of early learning, play and childcare services in Sure Start local programmes
- Sure Start local programmes and domestic abuse
- A better start: Children and families with special needs and disabilities in Sure Start programmes
- Sure Start and black and minority ethnic populations
- Promoting speech and language - a themed study in fifteen Sure Start local programmes
- Family and parenting support in Sure Start local programmes
- Understanding the contribution of Sure Start local programmes to the task of safeguarding children's welfare
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Research aim 3
- The third research aim was to examine the impact of the programme for families of living in a Sure Start area for parenting and child development, compared to families living in similarly disadvantaged areas (Impact).
- The outcomes from this research were:
- Impact study methodology report, summary and FAQs
- Early impacts of Sure Start local programmes on children and families
- Variation in Sure Start local programmes’ effectiveness: Early preliminary findings
- Understanding variations in effectiveness amongst Sure Start local programmes
- The impact of Sure Start local programmes on three year olds and their families
- The impact of Sure Start local programmes on five year olds and their families
- The quality of group childcare settings used by three to four-year-old children in Sure Start local programme areas and the relationship with child outcomes
- The impact of Sure Start local programmes on seven year olds and their families
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Research aim 4
- The fourth research aim was to report on the way funds were spent and any relationship to outcomes (Cost-Effectiveness).
- The outcomes from this research were:
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Research aim 5
- The fifth research aim was to provide technical support to the local programmes, which were required to conduct their own local evaluations, and to synthesis findings from these evaluations (Support for Local Programmes).
- The outcomes from this research were:
- Support to local Sure Start programme evaluations
- Implementing and managing your Sure Start local programme evaluation
- Qualitative research methods in Sure Start local programme evaluations - an introduction
- Measuring outcomes: guidance on outcomes evaluation for Sure Start local programmes
- Sharing evaluation findings: disseminating the evidence
- How was it for you? A brief guide to conducting user satisfaction surveys for local Sure Start programmes
- Using existing data in local programme evaluations
- Guidance for Sure Start local evaluators and programme managers on the estimation of cost-effectiveness at a local level
- Conducting ethical research
- Cost-effectiveness in Sure Start local programmes: A synthesis of local evaluations findings
- Smoking cessation services in Sure Start local programmes: Findings from local evaluations
- Black and minority ethnic families and Sure Start: Findings from local evaluation reports
- Breastfeeding, weaning and health eating: A synthesis of Sure Start local programme evaluation findings
- Partnership working in Sure Start local programmes: Synthesis of early findings from Local Programme evaluations
- Speech and language services in Sure Start local programmes: Findings from local evaluations
Other Outcomes
Read about details of the evaluation methodology.
All the reports to Government produced in each of the modules can be found on the Government website (search evaluation sure start).
Take a look at a list of all other publications derived from the National Evaluation.