Research and analysis

Raising the bar? Evaluation of the Social Pedagogy Pilot programme in residential children's homes

This research evaluates the implementation and impact of the Social Pedagogy Pilot programme and evaluates a social pedagogic approach.

Documents

Details

Over the past decade the government has given much attention to children and young people experiencing family breakdown and being looked after by local authorities. It is known that this group is at risk of social exclusion with poor outcomes in later life including poverty, unemployment, homelessness and offending. Wider policies would be expected to assist this group and their families, including efforts to lift children out of poverty and the substantial investment in Sure Start.

This final report concerns an 18-month, Department for Education-funded evaluation of the Social Pedagogy Pilot programme in residential children’s homes in England. The study was a collaboration between researchers at the Universities of Bristol and York. It entailed detailed investigation of a sample of 30 residential children’s homes distributed across England.

The overall aim of the research is to evaluate the implementation and impact of the social pedagogy pilot programme; and to consider whether a social pedagogic approach would be likely to have a positive effect within the context of English residential children’s homes.

Published 28 July 2011