Interventions aimed at improving educational outcomes in children and young people with a social worker

A systematic review

July 28, 2026

Interventions aimed at improving educational outcomes in children and young people with a social worker

Summary

This protocol summarises plans for a systematic review of interventions aimed at improving educational outcomes in children and young people with a social worker.

Who, what, why and how?

Children and young people with a social worker consistently experience poorer educational outcomes than their peers, including lower attendance, higher rates of exclusion, and weaker attainment across all stages of education. These inequalities are shaped by a combination of adverse early experiences, instability, limited access to learning opportunities, and wider structural disadvantage, with effects that can extend well beyond the school years into health, employment, housing, and involvement with the justice system.

We have commissioned the Centre for Evidence and Implementation (CEI) to carry out a mixed-methods systematic review which will seek to understand which interventions are effective in improving educational outcomes for children and young people with a social worker, for whom they are most effective, and which practice elements or intervention components are associated with success. It will also examine the barriers and enablers to successful implementation of these interventions, alongside the views of children and young people, parents and carers, and practitioners on the acceptability and usefulness of different approaches. By synthesising evidence across impact, implementation, and user perspectives, the review aims to inform the development of a Practice Guide that can support more equitable and effective educational support for this population.

Research Questions

1. What works: Which interventions are effective in supporting and improving educational outcomes in children and young people with a social worker?

What interventions or types of interventions have been used to support and improve educational outcomes in children and young people with a social worker?
What is the effectiveness of interventions to support and improve educational outcomes in children and young people with a social worker?

2. For whom: Which interventions (and intervention components and models) are effective for different populations of children and young people with a social worker?

What are the known demographics and characteristics of the children and young people with a social worker served by these interventions?
Which types of interventions/models demonstrate effectiveness for children and young people at different developmental age ranges (e.g., Early years, Primary, Secondary and Post-16)?
Which types of interventions/models are effective for children and young people with different levels of statutory involvement, including different care placement types or arrangements?

3. How and why: What practice elements and intervention components are associated with effective interventions when supporting children and young people with a social worker?

What are the practice elements or intervention components aimed at supporting children and young people with a social worker?
What is the frequency and distribution of practice elements and intervention components among the available literature?
What practice elements and intervention components are associated with effective interventions when supporting children and young people with a social worker?

4. Implementation: What are the enablers and barriers to successful implementation of interventions in supporting and improving educational outcomes in children and young people with a social worker?

5. User perspectives: What are the views of intervention users and practitioners about the acceptability and usefulness of interventions?