1. Rowley Sure Start Local Evaluation Presentation 2nd April 2003 Local Evaluation Reflections from a Trailblazer

2. Rowley Sure Start Local Evaluation Presentation 2nd April 2003 Why we did it? Because we had to? Because it said so in the guidance? Because our evaluator told us we had to?

3. Rowley Sure Start Local Evaluation Presentation 2nd April 2003 Why we did it? Compare progress made to date in comparison to the delivery plan Opportunity to recruit and train local parents To raise the profile of the programme within the local area

4. Rowley Sure Start Local Evaluation Presentation 2nd April 2003 What was evaluation? Were we going to be judged Were we going to be inspected What if the parents said nasty things about us

5. Rowley Sure Start Local Evaluation Presentation 2nd April 2003 Uncertainty?

6. Rowley Sure Start Local Evaluation Presentation 2nd April 2003 The process Community researchers recruited through local networks Positions offered on condition that a (paid) training programme was completed The six successful applicants then undertook interviews in pairs

7. Rowley Sure Start Local Evaluation Presentation 2nd April 2003 The process Were paid £8 per interview Provided with mobiles phones Questionnaires completed by mothers with at least one child under 4 and/or pregnant 100 interviews took place (70-80 expected)

8. Rowley Sure Start Local Evaluation Presentation 2nd April 2003 The findings Expected: Health Visitors very approachable Fairly stable community No single parents in full-time work 20% of households contain no working adult Parents found Mother & Toddler/Baby groups very helpful

9. Rowley Sure Start Local Evaluation Presentation 2nd April 2003 The findings Un-expected Over half (55%) the children were born outside the Borough Three out of four children were read to on a daily basis 40% of households contain an adult that smokes 30% of all mothers smoke

10. Rowley Sure Start Local Evaluation Presentation 2nd April 2003 How we used them New services Application for additional PSA funding for: - smoking cessation activities, employment/training activities, additional play/crèche support,

11. Rowley Sure Start Local Evaluation Presentation 2nd April 2003 How we used them Change of practice Understanding/realisation the importance of cross border cooperation Health visiting role developing to be important driver for a change of health practice. Acknowledgement of importance Midwifery service

12. Rowley Sure Start Local Evaluation Presentation 2nd April 2003 Future evaluation/s Realisation of the complexity Need for expert advise and support Must be undertaken to consolidate Sure Start successes Use NESS