Monitoring & Evaluation
This is an essential stage of all projects - and we are able to provide an independent viewpoint, where it is needed, of both the performance and impact of interventions.
At ECOTEC we are able to use a range of monitoring and evaluation tools to answer our clients’ questions such as “Will it work?”, “How is it doing?” and “What difference has it made?”. “It” might be one of a number of things: a project, an entire funding programme, an action plan, a strategy or a policy. Whichever it is, we have a vast experience upon which to draw, and can develop an approach that meets the particular needs of each individual situation. What is more, we can tell you what is working well (and not so well) and “how” and “why” things are as they are. We hope our clients will be able to use our findings to inform their future work, and we are often asked to formulate recommendations on this basis.
Our monitoring and evaluation services include:
- evaluating at project, programme and policy levels
- quantitative / qualitative monitoring
- ex-ante evaluation
- interim evaluation
- ex-post evaluation
For more information on our Monitoring & Evaluation work in your policy or practice area, visit our themes pages or contact David Supple
Service Portfolio: Evaluation of transition information sessions
Department for Children, Schools and Families (former Department for Education and Skills)
ECOTEC is evaluating an important national project for the Department for Children, Schools & Families, to engage parents in their child's learning and development. This two year pathfinder evaluation will identify lessons learned from effective work with parents and carers, to inform national rollout in 2008 as part of the Every Child Matters policy reforms.
The project
The 'transition information sessions' demonstration project offers a core framework for working with parents and carers, which can be adapted to meet local needs. It aims to build relationships with parents when their child starts primary or secondary school - key transition points - and to enable fast and effective referral to services that are offered in the local area. This is an important dimension to the Extended Schools concept, and recognises that ultimately all schools require effective parent partnership to deliver positive outcomes for children and families. At pathfinder stage, some 500 schools are delivering sessions in 2006-07 and a further 500 in 2007-08.
The evaluation
The aim of the evaluation is to establish the effectiveness of the various local models for planning and delivering the sessions, and to identify their impact on parents, families, schools and communities. ECOTEC is working in partnership with Professor John Bastiani for the evaluation - a leading national expert in home-school links and parental involvement. The work includes a national baseline survey of 2000 parents, observations of sessions in six local authorities, and in-depth interviewing with school staff, partners, parents and carers. The interim report is due in March 2007 to provide recommendations for next year's cohort of schools. Final reporting will take place in March 2008.
laurie.day@ecotec.com
+44 121 616 3600
Other projects in this Portfolio
