Evaluation: How are we doing?

When Wendy Whittaker, children's centre service co-ordinator in Crewe,was considering evaluating her setting as it began its transition from aSure Start local programme, she faced the choice of either commissioningan external evaluation or pulling together an internal team. "Externalevaluation is particularly useful when you have a sensitive or complexsituation," says the former programme manager. "However, manyorganisations such as Sure Start are doing internal evaluation work on aday-to-day basis and this can also be effective."

Although the Crewe Sure Start board plumped for an external evaluationin this instance, Whittaker also discovered the benefits of ensuringin-house staff have an understanding of the process. "One of thelearning points from our evaluation was the need for staff to have sometraining or knowledge of evaluation," she reveals. "Being able tounderstand why you are going for a particular approach or method canhelp you ask the right questions."