Publications

The purpose of this research is to understand the lessons learnt by those councils that have undertaken large-scale structural change of children’s services, and to identify the key building blocks that ensure high quality services for children, young people and families in this context.

Case studies and practical information.

Giving children a healthy start in life is one of the most important jobs councils do and we all have a duty to make sure that children, along with their mums and dads, have access to the services they need.

This document contains seven case studies of positive initiatives in local authorities around the country.

Local government action to tackle childhood obesity

In October and November 2023, the Local Government Association sent an online survey to all councils providing children’s social care in England. The purpose of the survey was to assess the frequency and costs arising from high-cost children’s social care placements, as well as to explore reasons why the costs of certain placements are particularly high.

In the spring of 2022, the Local Government Association commissioned consultant peers to review library services in eight councils, specifically with regard to how they worked to enhance the local early years offer and, in particular, support for speech, language and communication development.

Findings from the LGA’s peer learning programme.

The LGA commissioned a literature review to examine and evaluate ‘what works?’ in relation to the delivery of good quality early years provision for all children accessing the early years childcare entitlements.

Every child deserves a good school place, but that isn’t currently available to everyone. Government rules ban councils and council-maintained schools from helping academies and free schools improve. But given their excellent track record in maintaining high educational standards and in turning around failing schools, councils need to be recognised as effective education improvement partners, ready and able to support schools of all types.