Joined-up support with schools can tackle poverty and boost students’ life chances
Working with Redbridge Council, it became clear that we need to think beyond the usual scope of the education system and address the wider social issues that threaten to hold children and young people back.
Client
London Borough of Redbridge
The brief
The work was commissioned by the Redbridge Education department to identify the most significant issues holding children and young people back, with the aim to find proactive ways to create improvements.
Key insight
The issues that hold children back are national problems but Redbridge can take actions locally to improve outcomes. Direct results of the inquiry include identifying ways to reduce the financial burden on families, making it easier for parents and carers to get expert financial advice and improving access to practical assistance.
The waiting time for a 3-bedroom council house.
16 years
Redbridge Council wanted to better understand the factors affecting children's life chances and identify practical actions that could help improve outcomes for children and young people across the borough.
Many challenges facing children are national such as poverty and unequal access to opportunities. But the Council recognised the importance of understanding how these issues impact local families and what could be done at a borough level to address them.
Commissioned by Redbridge's Education Department the inquiry set out to develop evidence-based recommendations that could drive meaningful change.
We delivered a two-year inquiry into the life chances of children and young people in Redbridge, independently chaired by Anne-Marie Canning MBE.
The inquiry brought together evidence from a wide range of stakeholders, including children and families, school leaders, teachers, early years practitioners, youth organisations and council services. We analysed local data and drew on expertise from academics and national organisations, including the Child Poverty Action Group.
Local children and their families told us about how the main barriers: poverty, living in temporary accommodation and unmet mental health needs impact their lives.
The evidence was compiled into a report, complete with practical recommendations for action.
The inquiry has helped establish Redbridge as a leading local authority in tackling the challenges that affect children's life chances and translating evidence into action.
As a direct result of the inquiry:
Identified practical ways to reduce hidden costs of schooling.
Improved access to benefits, debt advice and financial support for families.
Increased financial resilience and support for young people facing hardship.
Created a shared evidence base to drive action on child poverty.
Strengthened borough-wide collaboration to improve outcomes for children and families.
Future actions to focus on
Testing new solutions: Pilot innovative approaches to reduce barriers to achievement, including tackling school costs, supporting children in temporary accommodation, strengthening early intervention, and improving information sharing.
Joining up support: Bring schools, nurseries, youth services, and community organisations together to tackle child poverty and provide coordinated support for young people.
Unlocking funding and innovation: Build partnerships to attract investment learning and sharing best practice.
As a direct result, partners across the borough are uniting with increased urgency and clear direction to improve the life chances of children locally
Children and young people live in income-deprived families in Redbridge.
8,850
Download the report (PDF, 3Mb)
Listen to audio stories of real life experiences.