An Evaluation of the Experiences and Perceived Effects of Children using a Local Sure Start Programme
type: CreativeWork
description: At the end of the last century a governmental comprehensive review recognised that changes to children's services in the UK were needed, as existing services were unable to meet the developmental needs of many children particularly those living with disadvantage. Early interventional services and programmes are designed to promote the development of children and research, much of which has been carried out in the USA, has found that the most effective interventions are holistic services able to recognise and meet the needs of communities, families and children. In the UK this knowledge contributed to the creation of Sure Start, a national early interventional programme working to promote the development of children through local agencies set in deprived areas over the whole of the country. This thesis explores the experiences of children and their families using a local Sure Start programme in Wales, and examines the perceived effects of the programme on the development and developmental environment of the children. The descriptive short-term longitudinal cohort investigation was based in Rhondda Cynon Taff Sure Start, a local programme whose services are available for all families with young children who live in the county. Thirty one families from Rhondda Cynon Taff with thirty four children aged between 3-48 months old were recruited to the study, the sample consisted of eight children (25%) from multi-risk families and twenty- six (75%) from lower-risk families. Complete data sets were obtained for 88% of the sample. The developmental progress and the developmental environments of children were measured over the time of service use using well validated, standardised instruments (ASQ, ASQ:SE, HOME). Family experiences of service use and perceptions of its effects on participant children were explored by narratives elicited by semi-structured interviews conducted with parents before and after service use. The family experiences also were set within the framework o…
abstract: At the end of the last century a governmental comprehensive review recognised that changes to children's services in the UK were needed, as existing services were unable to meet the developmental needs of many children particularly those living with disadvantage. Early interventional services and programmes are designed to promote the development of children and research, much of which has been carried out in the USA, has found that the most effective interventions are holistic services able to recognise and meet the needs of communities, families and children. In the UK this knowledge contributed to the creation of Sure Start, a national early interventional programme working to promote the development of children through local agencies set in deprived areas over the whole of the country. This thesis explores the experiences of children and their families using a local Sure Start programme in Wales, and examines the perceived effects of the programme on the development and developmental environment of the children. The descriptive short-term longitudinal cohort investigation was based in Rhondda Cynon Taff Sure Start, a local programme whose services are available for all families with young children who live in the county. Thirty one families from Rhondda Cynon Taff with thirty four children aged between 3-48 months old were recruited to the study, the sample consisted of eight children (25%) from multi-risk families and twenty- six (75%) from lower-risk families. Complete data sets were obtained for 88% of the sample. The developmental progress and the developmental environments of children were measured over the time of service use using well validated, standardised instruments (ASQ, ASQ:SE, HOME). Family experiences of service use and perceptions of its effects on participant children were explored by narratives elicited by semi-structured interviews conducted with parents before and after service use. The family experiences also were set within the framework o…
author: Williams, Annie
language: eng
date published: 2008-12
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:39:05Z
provider: University of South Wales
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of South Wales