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Knowledge Hub: Research

Research

Scientific research and evidence forms the cornerstone of service design which fosters happier and healthier lives.

It is crucial to everything we do. It is the way in which we learn about the impact our services have made on our children and their families.
We ‘test and learn’ from evidence and science-based services and activities as well as innovations.

Evaluation

To ensure that ABSS services are effective and will improve children’s outcomes, continuous evaluation is carried out. Find out more about ABSS evaluation processes.

Community Voices

The voices of parents/carers and children are key to understanding the impact of the ABSS programme. Find out more about their journeys and experiences.

Learning Zone

ABSS aims to empower families and the workforce, leaving behind a sustainable legacy of systems-change.

Latest Reports & Insights

Katie Chadd and Anuj Kapilashrami from the Evaluation Team at the University of Essex undertook the Participatory Action Research (PAR) component of the ABSS Summative evaluation.
Author(s): University of Essex
A visual summary of the learning from the Formative Evaluation of ABSS.
Author(s): Multiple Authors
An evaluation of the ABSS/City Family Creche service.
Author(s): RSM

Useful external reports and studies

Author: Professor Sir Michael Marmot Description: Professor Sir Michael Marmot chaired an independent review to propose the most effective evidence-based strategies for reducing health inequalities in England. Links for Full Report and Executive Summary

Author:

Poverty Strategy Commission, chaired by Baroness Philippa Stroud

Description:

The Commission’s Interim Report summarises the findings of the Commission’s work since 2022. It brings together the first steps towards the Commission’s goals of building consensus around the need to tackle poverty in the UK and the tools and approaches that could be successful in doing so


Link: Full Report

Author:

Scientific Advisory Commission on Nutrition (SACN). Chaired by Professor Ken Ong and Dr Anthony Williams

Description:

The report considers evidence on the impact of infant feeding on short- and longer- term health outcomes for infants and mothers. It also considers factors that influence eating behaviour and diversification of the diet, and makes recommendations on feeding in the first year of life.


Link: Full Report

Author:

HM Government

Description:

The Review was chaired by the Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP and focused on the 1,001 “critical” days through pregnancy to the age of two. These critical days are when the building blocks for lifelong emotional and physical health are laid down.


Link: Full Report

Author:

Professor Sir Michael Marmot , Jessica Allen, Tammy Boyce, Peter Goldblatt, and Joana Morrison

Description:

This report was produced by the Institute of Health Equity and commissioned by the Health Foundation to mark 10 years on from the landmark study Fair Society, Healthy Lives (The Marmot Review).


Link: Full Report

Beyond ABSS: What Next?

Click here for the Beyond ABSS webpage to find out the latest updates on the future of ABSS.

 

A decade of A Better Start Southend: Ten years of supporting families and learning for the future.