C4EO - Narrowing the Gap (NtG)

Narrowing the Gap (NtG) is a two year programme hosted by the Local Government Association (LGA), supported by Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and funded by Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Its aim is to narrow the gap in outcomes between vulnerable and excluded children and others, against a context of improving outcomes for all.

From October 2008 the programme will be overseen by C4EO.

The NtG programme focuses on five key lines of enquiry:

• How to create and sustain the right links between schools, children's centres and children's services
• How to engage and support parents and carers in helping their children to succeed
• How to use the new systems and process brought into being by Every Child Matters to orientate services more towards prevention and early intervention
• How to strengthen and align local leadership and governance arrangements – professional and political
• How to strengthen systems for developing local leaders to deliver improved services based on the understanding of what works

The programme has a small core team of experienced sector experts, led by Christine Davies CBE, which includes Dame Gillian Pugh and Jane Held.

This team is supported by a reference group of which CSN, NCB, IDeA, NFER, RiP, SCIE, CWDC, TDA, NCSL, Audit Commission and OPM are critical partners.

• More information on publications and documents.
• More information on the background of the programme.
• For more information about NtG contact Jane Held.