New toolkit supports ethical and effective use of children’s information

The toolkit draws on findings from the Children’s Information Project, a research project that explored how local authorities use information to understand children and families and support better decision-making.

Funded by the Nuffield Foundation, the project ran from 2021 to 2026 and was hosted by the Department of Education’s Rees Centre in partnership with the University of Sussex, the London School of Economics and Research in Practice. The project also worked closely with four local authority partners and an extended Learning Network.

The research highlights that effective information use goes beyond simply gathering data. It requires the right systems, approaches and practices to ensure information can support informed decision-making and provide a comprehensive picture of children’s needs, trajectories and outcomes.

A key focus of the project was ensuring that the voices and experiences of children, young people, parents and carers are reflected in information systems. Their lived experiences can provide important context alongside quantitative data, helping services develop a fuller understanding of the children and communities they support.

Drawing on the project’s research and learning, the new toolkit brings together clear definitions, practical tools and examples of what ethical and effective information use can look like in local authority settings.

It highlights principles including transparency, equity and respect for rights, and provides resources to support teams in putting these principles into practice.

By ensuring that the experiences and perspectives of children, families and communities help shape how information is gathered, understood and shared, local authorities can develop a richer understanding of local needs and use information to help inform services and decision-making.

The toolkit is hosted by Research in Practice, one of the Children’s Information Project partners.

Explore the Children’s Information Project toolkit on the Research in Practice website.

Find out more about the Children’s Information Project.