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Leadership key to narrowing gap in children's outcomes
Quality of leadership is the single most important factor in narrowing the gap in outcomes between the most and least disadvantaged children, according to the government-funded Narrowing the Gap programme. Final guidance from the programme will be published today (23 June) after two years of research focusing on the most effective ways to narrow the gap in outcomes between vulnerable and excluded children and others.
Children & Young People Now - 23/06/09
Led by the Local Government Association, the programme has been overseen by the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services (C4EO) since October last year.
Christine Davies, director of C4EO, said: "Despite all of our best endeavours and strategic investment in public services, the gap between outcomes of all children and vulnerable groups remains one of the nation's greatest challenges.
"Our findings suggest that effective leadership at every level of the system is absolutely crucial."
The programme aims to build stronger links between schools and children's centres, more engagement with parents and carers, and stronger local leadership on a political and professional level. Although the research programme is complete C4EO will be responsible for ensuring that guidance is now acted on by government and local authorities.
