Summary
1.1. There is a wealth of existing data and evidence available on how early circumstances and experiences affect people’s lives from childhood to adulthood, through longitudinal studies such as Understanding Society. There are some particular gaps in data which Understanding Society is addressing, but the linkage between survey and administrative data, which could help improve the evidence base and policy evaluation in particular, remains a challenging task. 1.2. Much more effort is needed to identify how departments are using evidence for key policies and what more can be done to stimulate the demand for evidence. An important driver to improve the use of evidence would be for the Science and Technology Select Committee to work with relevant departmental Select Committees to conduce periodic “evidence checks” on early interventions (and potentially in other areas).
Note: Uses Understanding Society: Linked Education Administrative Datasets - National Pupil Database NPD