Trial Evaluation Protocol for Research Learning Communities

Ipsos have been commissioned by the What Works for Children’s Social Care (WWCSC) to evaluate the Research Learning Communities (RLC) intervention. The intervention aims to improve Literacy and Mathematics outcomes of Children in Need (CIN) and Looked After Children (LAC), by supporting Subject Leads, Designated Teachers and year 5 and 6 teachers in primary schools to further develop and implement research-informed teaching strategies.

Although the intervention was previously delivered to schools and was evaluated, it is the first time that it will be focusing on supporting teachers to develop evidence-based teaching strategies specifically for CIN/LAC. The study will involve a Randomised Control Trial (RCT), an implementation and process evaluation and a cost analysis using a mixed methods approach. It is anticipated that 240 primary schools in 6 local authorities (LAs) will take part in the evaluation between October 2021 and March 2023.