Adobe Acrobat PDF

Improving attendance at school

Attendance has been steadily improving in the last few years, but there were still 57 million days of school missed in 2009/2010. The evidence shows that children with poor attendance are unlikely to succeed academically and they are more likely not to be in education, employment or training (NEET) when they leave school.

This report examines the trends in school attendance, parental sanctions and effective school practice.

A better fit? Creating housing choices for an ageing population

Repot that aims to:

- Set out the evidence about older people’s housing at present: where older people are living, their aspirations and their attitudes about housing, particularly their attitudes to downsizing.
- Explore the social and economic benefits associated with providing more housing for older people.
- Make the case for increasing the supply of housing for older people and recommend policy changes that can support this.

What makes us healthy? The asset approach in practice: evidence, action, evaluation

Paper that builds on an earlier publication ‘A glass half-full: how an asset approach can improve community health and wellbeing’. It promotes different ways of engaging local communities in co-producing local solutions and reducing health inequalities.

The paper argues that asset principles help us to understand what gives us health and wellbeing. It makes the case for developing ways of working that protect and promote the assets, resources, capacities and circumstances associated with positive health for everyone.

Health and wellbeing boards: system leaders or talking shops?

Report that forms part of a wider programme of work being carried out by The King’s Fund on health and wellbeing boards. The programme has supported several local authorities and their health partners to develop their shadow boards. As part of the programme, in late 2011, a survey of 50 local authority areas was conducted, covering all regions of England to find out how they and their health partners are implementing the new boards. Telephone interviews were conducted in September and October 2011 with lead officers identified by local authorities themselves.

What the millennium cohort study can tell us about the challenges new parents face: statistics for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Report that provides an overview of statistics, from the MCS and other, comparable, data sources, about the attitudes, experiences and challenges faced by new parents in each of the four countries of the UK.

ISFS in action: personalising block contracts

Report that describes a ground-breaking initiative in the development of personalisation in adult social care. By working in partnership, Southwark Council has:

- Broken down a large block contract for 83 people into individual budgets
- Created Individual Service Funds (ISF) for more flexible services
- Begun creating better and more empowering services for those they serve
- Developed a more dynamic and respectful relationship between a service provider and commissioner

Life on a low income

In April 2011, Resolution Foundation started following seven low to middle income families across England to track their financial and economic position and how their lives changed over the course of 12 months. This report summarises their experiences over the year and the key challenges faced by the families.