A Better Start Evaluation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Better Start Impact and Economic Evaluation Programme
IRAS ID
150913
Contact name
Jane Barlow
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Warwick
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 3 months, 16 days
Research summary
Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is funding ‘A Better Start’ (ABS) to improve the life chances of children living in disadvantaged areas of England. This funding will facilitate implementation and testing of different models of early intervention in five areas across England: Blackpool, Bradford, Lambeth, Nottingham and Southend-on-Sea. Alongside government-funded and voluntary-sector providers working collaboratively across health, education and social care, BIG’s funds will allow these areas to make structural changes to the way in which they identify and work with families at risk of poor outcomes, in addition to introducing a range of preventative interventions focusing on pregnancy and the first three years of life.
Warwick Consortium will evaluate the impact of ABS using a longitudinal cohort design in which outcomes for parents and children in the five intervention sites are compared with outcomes for families in fifteen matched comparison sites. Families will be recruited into the study at 16 weeks antenatal and data will be collected at 28 weeks antenatal; 2 and 4 months postnatal; 1 ; 2; 3; 5; and 7 years of age, using both interview and online/postal data collection methods. Primary outcomes are children’s social-emotional; nutritional and language development, and parenting mental health and practices.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0150
Date of REC Opinion
20 May 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion