A Better Start National Evaluation Themed Annual Report: Place-based Approaches

Introduction

A Better Start (ABS) is a 10‑year, £215 million programme funded by The National Lottery Community Fund to help families in five England areas improve early childhood development.

Through evidence‑based, place‑focused partnerships, ABS aims to strengthen systems, support prevention, and build learning for local and national policy. This report summarises findings from the 2022 national evaluation on how place‑based approaches are understood and implemented across the programme.

Findings

The evaluation found that stakeholders had varying understandings of what ‘place‑based approaches’ meant within ABS. Most recognised it as working collaboratively within defined local areas to tailor support to families’ needs.

Several aspects of place‑based working were seen to work well, including strong local partnerships, improved coordination between services, and a shared focus on prevention. However, challenges were also identified, such as differing interpretations of place‑based practice, inconsistencies in implementation across areas, and difficulties sustaining engagement at the ward level.

Ward‑based work showed both strengths, like deeper community knowledge, and limitations, including resource pressures and practical constraints tied to small geographical areas.