C4EO - about us

Background information about us

For more background information on C4EO such as who are, we and what we do and our themes and priorities are available in the following documents:

• Introducing the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes - C4EO (340kb PDF file).
• C4EO's priority work themes (43kb PDF file).
• How C4EO will deliver its work programme (42kb PDF file).
• Centre for Excellence and Outcomes: frequently asked questions (43kb PDF file).
• Data sharing protocol (49Kb PDF file).

What are C4EO’s aims?

C4EO aims to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families in England by identifying and coordinating the evidence of ‘what works’ at national, regional and local level.

We plan to build a single, comprehensive picture of good practice, identifying the systems and methods that are making a difference to children and young people’s lives.

Using this information, we will offer support to local government, Children’s Trusts and other stakeholders, working in partnership to help increase the effectiveness of their services.

In this way we aim to encourage a culture of improvement, underpinned by a passion for doing the very best for all children, young people and their families.

For more detailed information on how we work and the services we offer, visit the Work themes section.

Why was C4EO created?

The launch of Every Child Matters (ECM) in 2003 led to a transformation of children and young people’s services across England, including the creation of Children’s Trusts and a new focus on five holistic outcomes for children:

• to be healthy
• to stay safe
• to enjoy and achieve
• to make a positive contribution
• to achieve economic wellbeing.

In 2007 the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) recognised that some aspects of the ECM agenda required additional research, analysis and support. To address this need, DCSF worked with key children’s sector stakeholders to develop the concept of a centre for excellence and outcomes in children and young people’s services.

Following a competitive tendering process, the grant to deliver C4EO was awarded to the consortium of the National Children's Bureau (NCB), the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), Research in Practice (RiP) and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) in May 2008.

How does C4EO link with DCSF and other government departments?

• C4EO is a DCSF sponsored independent consortium. The Director reports regularly to DCSF on C4EO’s progress against key performance indicators and budget. C4EO staff also meet with senior officials from DCSF and other relevant government departments to discuss issues arising from the centre’s activities and to learn about government policy developments. In addition, through its work C4EO will put forward recommendations for national level action to be considered by ministers and DCSF.
  
• C4EO has close links with the nine regional Government Offices in England. The Government Offices are involved in the centre’s national and regional activities, contributing to knowledge gathering, trend analysis, developing outputs and disseminating learning. Through this cooperation C4EO can align its work with regional improvement priorities, while Government Offices can reflect the knowledge generated by C4EO in their day to day work in local areas.
  
• C4EO will also work closely with the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs) and other regional field forces. However, local authority engagement is entirely voluntary and authorities will remain in control of the support they receive from C4EO.