Professor Chris Chapman reflects on lessons from London for the Scottish Attainment Challenge, a £100 million initiative designed to close the gap in attainment of children from more and less advantaged backgrounds.

Claire Bynner, research associate at What Works Scotland, reflects on a seminar held by What Works Scotland on 25 March 2015 on the economics of prevention, specifically on community planning partnerships and health.

Erica Wimbush shares a blog post from the policy reunion focused on the emergence and evolution of community planning partnerships (CPPs) organised and chaired by Professor Ken Gibb as part of the What Works Scotland initiative.

Policy and practice briefing outlines the key learning from a What Works Scotland report about community anchors and their role in engaging with, leading and challenging public service reform.

Case study that examines how the approach and learning from a successful violence and anti-social behaviour intervention has spread to two other communities. The report shows how the distinct characteristics of the Operation Modulus approach support the principles and practice of public service reform, more widely and in relation to other issues.

Claire Bynner, What Works Scotland research associate, considers what increasing diversity means for local areas and what local government and community planning partnerships (CPPs) can do to support the settlement of new migrants.

Research report, executive summary and literature review examining how public services, primarily schools but also other services such as health and social care, are meeting the educational provision needs of refugee children in Scotland. It focuses not only on the ‘formal’ aspects of education but also the school as a site for integration for refugee children and their families.

Report and executive summary of the Syrian Resettlement Programme of West Dunbartonshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) which looks at the individuals’ experiences and the processes and structures implemented by the CPP and its agencies.

An article that explores how Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership approached changing Aberdeenshire’s relationship with alcohol and what they learned from the experience.

Joe Brady from the Scottish Refugee Council explains an organisational change process that led to a sharper focus on assets. Here, he explains how service redesign was achieved.