Early intervention: the next steps
15 February 2011
Early intervention is about working with children and their parents in their first three years of life to make a difference to child development and prevent serious emotional, social and educational problems later on. Last year Graham Allen MP was tasked with reviewing this agenda and has just published a
report which suggests how it can be developed and supported.Why is it important for cultural learning?We know all types of cultural learning have significant impacts on children’s health and wellbeing. Using cultural interventions with families can be a short cut to improving the social and emotional foundations for children, a key aim identified in the report.The report recommends that any new funding for early intervention be prioritised for:
- existing ‘programmes’ and projects which have been proven to be effective.
- the most effective ‘places’ – drawn from local authorties, agencies, organisations and the voluntary sector.
- the Early Intervention Foundation.
- Promotion of Early Intervention Programmes: the review has evaluated the existing evidence base and 19 programmes have been identified that deliver significant evidenced outcomes for children and their parents
- Encouraging 15 local Early Intervention Places run by local authorities and the voluntary sector to pioneer programmes
- An Early Intervention Foundation to identify effective programmes, evidence them for commissioners of services for children and their parents, and look at funding models
- The report sets out recommendations for data collection and advises partners on what to track and evaluate
- The report identifies that excellent early intervention programmes are medium to long term in nature, with clearly defined structures and progression.
- This report advocates using existing Sure Start and Children’s Centres to deliver early intervention. The cultural sector needs to use its existing strong partnerships with these organisations to get involved with this agenda.
- As with all ‘Big Society’ projects, central government will act as a champion for this work, but will not deliver it directly. The role of local cultural sector organisations taking part in local conversations cannot therefore be underestimated.
- The report recognises the importance of sharing expertise, best practice and information between local authorites, central government and the third sector.