Lord, P., Southcott, C., and Sharp, C. (2011). Targetting children’s centre services on the most needy families (LGA Research Report). Slough: NFER.

While continuing to acknowledge the value of ‘universal’ services, The Government has asked children’s centres and local authorities to target services on the ‘most needy’ families. This research aimed to provide local authority early years’ and children’s services leaders, and children’s centre managers with evidence of how children’s centre services are targeting the most disadvantaged families. It involved a rapid review of research and policy, together with case studies in six English local authorities.