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Knowledge Hub: Evaluation

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Evaluation

Robust evaluation allows us to adapt and evolve services, demonstrate impact and drive systems change.

Robust evaluation allows us to adapt and evolve services, demonstrate impact and drive systems change.

There are four parts to the evaluation of the ABSS services, projects and activities:

Our Evaluation Partners

REI logos (1)

Southend City Council

Southend City Council brought its access to and expertise with data into the ABSS partnership. The City Council’s data team collated and analysed data that was relevant to ABSS, including data about attendance at ABSS projects and services, healthcare and education data, and local population statistics.

REI logos (2)

Formative Evaluation: University of Essex

In March 2020, the University of Essex’s Division of Social Work and Social Justice at the School of Health and Social Care came on board to support ABSS with the evaluation of the ABSS programme.
Their focus was on the Formative evaluation, looking primarily at the effectiveness of individual projects and people’s experiences taking part. In Summer 2022, they examined common themes reported across all of the projects, producing a Metathematic analysis report.

REI logos (3)

Summative Evaluation: RSM UK Consulting LLP

The independent Summative Evaluation of ABSS was commissioned to identify the impact that the ABSS programme as a whole had on children and families in Southend. RSM conducted research at three crucial points, in 2022, 2023 and 2024, collecting and evaluating evidence on ABSS Programme-wide outcomes, along with our academic partner, the University of Essex.

Evaluation Reports & Insights

  • ABSS Summative Evaluation – Participatory Action Research Report
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
View Report
  • ABSS Formative Evaluation Summary Poster
A visual summary of the learning from the Formative Evaluation of ABSS.
Author(s): Multiple Authors
View Poster
  • Evaluation of the ABSS / City Family CIC Creche Service
An evaluation of the ABSS/City Family Creche service.
Author(s): RSM
View Report
  • Second ABS National Evaluation Annual Report
The second report monitoring the impact that the national A Better Start (ABS) programme is having in the five ABS areas.
Author(s): Multiple Authors
View Report
  • First ABS National Evaluation Annual Report
The first report monitoring the impact that the national A Better Start (ABS) programme is having in the five ABS areas.
Author(s): Multiple Authors
View Report
  • Independent Summative Evaluation – Phase 3
The findings from the third and final phase of the evaluation draw comparisons with findings from Phases 1 and 2.
Author(s): RSM
View Report
  • Independent Summative Evaluation – Phase 2
The findings from Phase 2 are based on the research activities conducted between March and September 2023.
Author(s): RSM
View Report
  • Independent Summative Evaluation – Phase 1
Conducted by independent consultant, RSM, on behalf of ABSS, this evaluation looks at the overall impact of ABSS.
Author(s): RSM
View Report
  • Meta thematic analysis of findings from formative evaluation reports
Regular and ongoing reporting on the delivery of our projects and services, including understanding the experiences of parents and families who participate in those projects and services.
Author(s): University of Essex
View Report

Learning Reports

  • A Better Start Southend Social and Communication Peer Support Workers; an ever-developing project
Read about how the team of Peer Support Workers continue to meet the needs of the children and families living in Southend.
Author(s): Laura Pullum
Read learning report
  • A Festival of conversations in Southend: getting families talking about the early years
Richard Newson looks at the learning behind a campaign to engage with expectant parents and families with very young children in Southend.
Author(s): Richard Newson
Read learning report
  • Dads’ health matters!
Sam Pooley writes about the success their community event, “Dads’ Health Matters,” had in keeping dads in Southend both happy and healthy.
Author(s): Sam Pooley
Read learning report
  • ABSS Creche service – enabling ABSS parents to work towards their potential
Kayleigh Churchman discusses the successes of the Community Hub and Creche and how it has benefited parents in Southend.
Author(s): Kayleigh Churchman
Read learning report
  • Engagement team & Parent Champions bring Southend mascot ‘Pip’ to life in new storybook
Michelle Gray describes how Parent Champions have brought the partnership’s Mascot, ‘Pip’, to life through a new storybook.
Author(s): Michelle Gray
Read learning report
  • Read-a-thon: a week-long storytelling event in Southend
Sian Ansell and Lynsey Weston describe how over fifty early years settings in the city came together to share the same story with local children.
Author(s): Sian Ansell, Lynsey Weston
Read learning report

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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.

Visit the Beyond ABSS webpage