Real World Impact

At Foundations, our mission is to make sure the best evidence leads to better outcomes for children. We measure our impact by the changes that happen as a result – in national policy, in local practice, and in how public money is spent.

These three examples show how our evidence has shaped real decisions, improved systems, and supported families across England.

Kinship Care – Setting the standard for support

Our Kinship Practice Guide, which was the first of its kind, brought together the strongest evidence on how to achieve positive outcomes for children in kinship arrangements.

In October 2024, the government’s statutory guidance recommended that local authorities base their support for kinship carers on the evidence in our guide – a powerful endorsement of our role in sharing what works.

Impact: National guidance now rooted in evidence that helps more children grow up within their family networks.

Family Group Conferences – Evidence that changed the law

Following our landmark trial, which showed Family Group Conferences can keep over 2,000 children out of care each year and save more than £150 million, we worked to ensure this evidence informed national policy.

In November 2024, based on the evidence of this trial, the government mandated that local authorities must offer family group decision-making before starting care proceedings, giving parents the legal right to be involved in decisions about their children. This reform, backed by funding, is embedded in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Impact: Families empowered, major cost savings for councils and fewer children entering care.

Social Workers in Schools – Ensuring investment delivers results

Our independent evaluation of the £6.5 million Social Workers in Schools (SWIS) programme found that, while valued by schools and families, the model did not achieve its intended outcome to reduce the number of child protection enquiries and was not cost-effective.

Based on these findings, the Department for Education chose to stop funding the scheme – ensuring resources could be redirected to approaches that deliver stronger results for children and families. In December 2024, the Chancellor cited our study as an example of how rigorous evaluation helps save public money and sharpens future investment decisions.

Impact: Public funds diverted from a service that did not produce the intended outcomes.

Latest Impact Report

Impact Report 2025–2026

This year, our evidence helped shape some of the biggest reforms to children’s services in a generation. From influencing national policy to supporting local authorities across England to use evidence more effectively, our latest Impact Report shows how we are turning evidence into better decisions, services, and outcomes for children and families.

Inside the report, you’ll find stories from a landmark year for Foundations, including securing a further 10 years of funding, expanding our work to help local areas use evidence more effectively, building the evidence base on kinship care and support for children affected by domestic abuse, and ensuring lived experience remains at the heart of everything we do through our Experts by Experience panel.

Previous Impact Reports