A two-day peer-led diagnostic followed by flexible offer of training and support which can be scaled as necessary to meet the level of support the council requires.
Cost – Fully subsidised
Contact - [email protected]
Corporate Parenting: LGA support, development and training offer
A three or four day review of Children's Services practice, the peer challenge is structured around three core areas with additional deep dive themes/diagnostic elements than can be added on as part of the scoping process. Length of challenge and size of team depends on the agreed scope.
CSPC peer challenge manual
A four day challenge designed to help councils, clinical commissioning groups and partners prepare for Ofsted/CQC SEND inspections of the local area.
SEND peer challenge manual
A four day challenge to support the improvement of social mobility through early education with a particular focus on speech, language and communication. This challenge is part of the DfE’s Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential and aims to reduce the word gap.
Cost - fully funded by the DfE
Early Language Local Innovation and Excellence (ELLIE) programme
Early Years peer challenge manual
Contact: [email protected]
Financial resilience in children’s services peer challenge
This includes:
- children’s services efficiency and resources peer challenge
- children’s services focused finance reviews.
The full offer: Financial resilience in children’s services
Children's resources and efficiency peer challenge
A three day peer challenge, this is designed to determine potential opportunities to control and reduce costs, ensure efficiencies and maximise positive outcomes in children’s services, including the identification of invest to save opportunities.
Our manual guide: Resources and Efficiency peer challenge manual
Cost - fully funded by the DfE.
Contact: [email protected]
The aim of each challenge is to help councils and their partners to reflect on their Family Hubs services that they provide and improve the outcomes for children and families.
A challenge provides a critical friend approach that challenges the councils and their partners in assessing their strengths and identifying their own areas for improvement. The key purpose of the challenge is to stimulate local action about how the council and its partners can improve the outcomes for children and families.
The challenge is an interactive exercise. During the challenge the peer team will examine evidence from a number of sources. These will include:
- Introductory presentation by the local authority to give context
- Documents that outline the local area approach to Family Hubs provision
- A self-assessment prepared by the council and their partners
- Performance data
- Interviews and focus groups conducted with staff from the council, partners and other stakeholders
- Observations of practice
The challenge will conclude with a presentation by the challenge team. This will provide the team’s views on the strengths of Family Hubs provision and areas for consideration. A feedback report covering the main points of the challenge will then be sent to the host council.
Bespoke Support
Funding has been allocated to provide targeted support to councils to improve or develop their systems for Best Start Family Hubs. An LGA consultant or officer peer with a background in the sector will provide up to 5 days support to each council. The support will be tailored to the needs of the individual council.
Examples of support :
- Developing a Best Start in Life Plan
- Creating an effective governance structure
- Commissioning Evidence Based Interventions for parenting and the Home Learning Environment
Please contact the National Centre for Family Hubs if you are interested in either a challenge or bespoke support.
Email: [email protected]
Our manual guide: Family Hubs: Peer Challenge Guidance Manual 2025
The LGA has a flexible approach to the varied requirements of local authorities and we are happy to discuss a bespoke approach to meet individual needs.
Working closely alongside the LGA principal adviser in each region the CIA will be instrumental to the improvement of Children's Services within councils. The key purpose of the role is to:
- provide support to the principal adviser and work with councils that have been identified for sector-led support, and develop strong relationships with lead members, chief executives and directors of Children's Services, building a clear understanding of their needs to identify innovative solutions, broker improvement strategies and ensure they are delivered
- provide complementary support and assistance, where required, to existing regional sector led improvement programmes for children's services, and contribute to the development of the LGA's peer support service and support improvement in local authorities
- deliver programmes to support and develop leadership and best practice in councils and support councils at risk, acting as a broker between the LGA and local authorities
- commission additional capacity and expertise, facilitating staff development and change management programmes. Working with regional networks to ensure best practice, policies and partnerships are shared.
If you are interested in having a peer challenge or diagnostic in the first instance please contact Richard Cooke (details below) who will ensure the relevant principal Adviser is advised of your interest. Maximum lead-time for each offer is recommended (ideally three months) in order for the LGA to arrange the most suitableapeer team to meet your specific requirements and to undertake the preparation work to support findings.
Richard Cooke, Programme Manager (Children's Services), Local Government Support Team, LGA
Telephone 07766 356 320
Email:[email protected]
