Evaluating the Regional Partnerships
Since their inception the Regional Partnerships have been extensively evaluated. A team from the University of Manchester evaluated the Special Educational Needs Regional Partnerships from April 2000 to July 2002, a team from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NfER) between 2003 and 2006.
In early 2006 SENRPs had a name change to Regional Partnerships. This was to reflect their wider remit, which as well as covering children with special educational needs (SEN), now also includes looked-after children and children with disabilities.
NfER 2003 to 2006
The NfER produced evaluation reports in January 2004, January 2005 and March 2006. Key findings included:
-
SENRPs made a substantial and marked contribution to the Government's agenda regarding provision for pupils with special educational needs (SEN);
-
the relatively modest financial input to each region by the Department released a considerable degree of professional time and expertise across authorities. In turn, this resulted in outcomes which improved professional practice and quality of provision, and extended the repertoire of strategies and approaches in relation to services for young people with SEN;
-
growing evidence of trans-regional activity which contributed further to value for money.
University of Manchester 2000 to 2002
A team from the University of Manchester evaluated the work of the SENRPs between April 2000 and July 2002. Key findings included:
-
SENRPs successfully promoted collaboration between different local authorities and boosted cooperation between the many different agencies working in the special educational needs field
-
SENRPs motivated SEN providers within regions, and were a good way of promoting informal communication between local authorities and the DCSF
-
SENRPs were rated highly by people working in the SEN area
-
SENRPs delivered immediate benefits to specific target groups of youngsters
-
SENRPs were excellent value for money.
Making change happen
As well as the two periods of formal evaluation, a report called Making Change Happen: the work of the SENRPs was commissioned in 2003 by the SEN Regional Partnerships themselves.
The report is a celebration of the work and achievements of the network from its inception in January 1999 to December 2004.
It highlights the unique model of operation of the SEN Regional Partnerships. (There are no other examples in the sphere of children's services where voluntary partnerships bring multi-agency stakeholders together to deliver such an array of data, information, tools, products, strategies, policies and new practices.)
Links
NfER evaluation
Final report: research brief (March 2006)
Final report: full report, (March 2006)
Interim report: full report (January
2005)
Interim report: executive summary (January
2005)
Interim report: full report (January 2004)
Interim report: executive summary (January 2004)
University of Manchester evaluation
Final report: full document (July 2002)
Final report: executive summary (July 2002)
Interim report (March 2002)
First report: Initial findings (August 2000)
Making change happen
Making Change Happen: the work of the SENRPs (full report
2005)
Making Change Happen: the work of the SENRPS (executive summary
2005)
Last updated: 16 July 2007
