Nurturing Programme Evaluation (parents and carers)
2012
Evaluation of the the Nurturing Programme for Parents and Carers using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Warwick and Edinburgh Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS)
Oxford University graduate student Sean Grant has completed a report on questionnaires which parent group leaders from around the country have been completing with parents before and after they attend a course of parent groups. The SDQ measures child behaviour and the WEMWBS measures parental wellbeing.
He had usable SDQ data on 363 children. Improvements were statistically significant. Using data from 5-10 year-old British children as a comparison, in the period of time from their parent/carer starting to completing the parent group, these children improved on average from scores better than 13% of the children to scores better than 19% of the children. Depending on the statistics used, this equates to a "small to medium effect" and represents an average improvement from borderline behaviour (moderate risk) to normal behaviour (no risk).
WEMWBS data was provided by 242 parents. Improvements were statistically significant. Using population scores from a Scottish national data set, in the period of time from starting to completing the parent group, these parents improved on average from scores better than 16% of the population to scores better than 43% of the population. Depending on the statistics used, this equates to a "medium to large effect."
Evaluation of the Nurturing Programme - Executive Summary
Evaluation of the Nurturing Programme - Full Report
2011
Using the Nurturing Programme in an Early Intervention Project
Hertfordshire County Council chose the Nurturing Programme to help successfully reduce referrals to children's social services. Read how here.
Young People in Focus Parent Group Leader Training Evaluation
An independent review of the 4-day training programme from a sample of 257 trainees undertaken between January and March 2011. 100% said it had met or exceeded expectations and it was variously described as life-changing, transforming and the best training ever attended. The majority had significant prior experience working with parents.Read the Executive Summary or download the full report.
Randomised Control Trial (RCT) of the Nurturing Programme
A 2-year randomised controlled trial with economic evaluation, to gain clear evidence about the costs and effects of the Nurturing Programme, has been completed. It was commissioned by the Cardiff Council, the Welsh Assembly Government and two other local authorities in South Wales. A collaborative team, led by Warwick University with research partners in South Wales, used a mixed-method design. Find out more about Family Links Randomised Control Trial.We are awaiting a date for publication of the final report.
2010
Holme House Prison Nurturing Programme Evaluation, Sue Welburn, Pam Clarke
A review of a 10-week parenting programme run for prisoners at Holme House prison. It highlights the difficulties of running a programme within a prison, but also how powerful a tool the Nurturing Programme is within the prison environment. Find out more about the Holme House Prison Evaluation
Ipsos MORI Report No 2 on 10-week Parents and Teens Nurturing Programme Pilot
This second evaluation assessed 3 pilots of the 10-week Parents and Teens Nurturing Programme after Family Links had revised it following recommendations from Ipsos MORI’s first evaluative commentary (see 2009). After highlighting how successful the pilot had been, Ipsos MORI made a few suggestions on how to improve the Parents and Teens Programme before it was rolled out nationwide. Find out more about the second Ipsos MORI evaluation
2009
Ipsos MORI Report No 1 on 10-week Parents and Teens Nurturing Programme Pilot
Chloe Smith, Ipsos MORI
Ipsos MORI No 1 evaluated a pilot of the 10-week Parents and Teens Nurturing Programme. The authors reported that the particular iteration of this pilot – young people and parents together – did encourage empathy and better communication between families. Feedback from participants and facilitators all pointed to the successful outcomes of the Nurturing Programme. They made several recommendations on how to run the next phase of pilots. Find out more about Ipsos MORI’s first evaluative commentary
2007
An Evaluation of the Family Links Nurturing Programme delivered on behalf of Parenting Education and Nurturing Support (PENS), Heather Stringer, Health on the Streets Team (HOTS) Bradford and Airedale (teaching) Primary Care Trust
This evaluation of the 10-week Nurturing Programme for parents at Holybrook School in Bradford found that the impact of the programme on parents and their families exceeded expectation. A more consistent approach adopted since attending the course had a positive influence on group members’ relationship with an identified child and the family as a whole. There was improved insight into the emotional needs of all family members and a positive change in family relationships. Find out more about PENS evaluation
2006
Parent Support in Sure Start North West Kensington & Golborne: an evaluation of the Family Links Nurturing Programme, Jayne Osgood and Kathy James - The Institute for Policy Studies in Education (IPSE)
The study aimed to identify and explore the outcomes of the programme for parents, provide them with an opportunity to offer criticism/praise and suggestions for improvement. The report stated parents felt less isolated and more supported by their peers. The felt they had regained control over their parental role, had increased empathy with their children and an improved sense of self. Much of what they’d learned was internalised for the long term. Parents felt The Parenting Puzzle handbook was particularly useful to refresh ideas. Find out more about Nurturing Programme Parent Support in Sure Start North West Kensington & Golborne.
The Nurturing Programme in Foston Hall: piloting the full programme – An evaluative commentary, Jonathan Nicholls, Mental Health Foundation
The report describes a second pilot in Foston Hall women’s prison in Derbyshire with changes made to the format since the Styal pilot (see 2005). A ten week programme was run over eight weeks. Attendees were able to submit a portfolio for assessment by the Open College Network. It was clear that, overall, the usual 10 week version of the programme worked: the women enjoyed it and attended consistently; they engaged in the material; and as the weeks progressed, they became more open to trying the exercises they originally felt less confident about, such as relaxation. There was also evidence of them trying the skills and strategies, supporting each other in doing so, and praising each other for the work they were doing. Six learners submitted portfolios to OCN and received 6 credits at level one. Find out more about Foston Hall’s pilot of the full Nurturing Programme.
2005
The Nurturing Programme: a prison based pilot – An evaluative commentary, Jonathan Nicholls, Mental Health Foundation
The report describes a pilot in Styal women’s prison in Cheshire, focusing on the lessons learned from taking the Nurturing Programme into a prison setting. There were indications that the course was raising the women’s awareness of their role as parents in a useful way. Voluntary attendance levels were consistently high, indicating that the prisoners found the course of value. Find out more about the Nurturing Programme in Styal women’s prison
2003
Nurturing Group Work in a Children's Home, Maggie Bell, Helen Fay, Debbie Ramsden, Shirley Morgan, Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care, Vol.2, No.2, August/September 2003
The paper describes a joint Education, Social Services and Health initiative introducing the Nurturing Programme in a Sunderland Children's Home for staff and young people. The primary aim was to help the young people and their carers feel nurtured and valued. Staff and young people reported significant positive change during the course of the group. The most frequent comments were that the home had become calmer and that people were nicer to each other. Members of staff welcomed the nurturing aspect of the course and how it made them think about looking after themselves. Read the full report on the Nurturing Programme in the Sunderland Children’s Home
2001
Understanding parenting programmes: parents' views, Dr Jane Barlow and Dr Sarah Stewart-Brown, Health Services Research Unit, University of Oxford, Primary Health Care Research and Development
This paper describes a pilot study which was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based parenting programme that combined the use of both affective (feelings) and behavioural strategies. The three pre-eminent ways in which parents seemed to have benefited from this particular programme included: the support that they received in the role of a parent from other parents, including a mirroring of problems; the regaining of a sense of empowerment in the parental role in part through an increase in their capacity to think about things calmly, and also through the provision of new tools with which to do the job of parenting; and an increased ability to empathise and identify with their children, and a better understanding of the reasons which motivate children to behave in particular ways. Read the full report on understanding parenting programmes