Government launches review into the effectiveness of early intervention

Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith and children’s minister Sarah Teather have confirmed in a joint statement that the review will be chaired by Labour MP Graham Allen.

The review will look at ways children’s professionals can better support children’s social and emotional needs and "break the cycles of underachievement which blight some of our poorest communities".

Examples of successful schemes will be looked at. The review will also look at funding early intervention schemes in "innovative ways" rather than government funding, their statement adds.

Allen said: "I have insisted that this work be strictly independent and the lessons shared with all parties. If early intervention is to be a success it must last a generation and, therefore, has to be owned and sustained by all parties."

The review is the first major piece of work to emerge from the Cabinet’s social justice committee, which is chaired by Duncan Smith. Allen will produce an interim report in January 2011 detailing case studies of successful schemes and recommendations on funding. A final report will be published in May next year.

Teather added: "Intervening earlier with troubled families can not only prevent children and their parents falling into a cycle of deprivation, anti-social behaviour and poverty but can save thousands if not millions of pounds in the longer term."

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) has welcomed the review but stresses that early intervention must be backed up with continuing support for disadvantaged children as they grow and develop.

ATL head of education policy Nansi Ellis said: "We will put in a submission to the commission and will be interested to hear the independent commission’s solutions.
 
"We hope the commission will not think that ‘innovative funding models’ mean using private companies or expecting communities or charities to act on their own without any support. We need to get away from urging people to pull their socks up because although personal responsibility is important it fails to recognise the in-built obstacles which so many children face from the outset."

Allen and Duncan Smith co-authored a report on early intervention in September 2008 and have both continued to call for a cross-party commitment to early intervention and prevention programmes.