What Works/Foundations Prevention and Early Intervention Webinars 2025
This series of four ninety-minute webinars is designed for commissioners, practitioners and anyone interested in applying evidence-based research and will be delivered by Foundations – the what works centre for children and families (UK).
Foundations developed the What Works Ireland Evidence Hub. The What Works Ireland Evidence Hub provides information about prevention and early intervention programmes that have been evaluated and shown to improve outcomes for children and young people.
These webinars will take place between July 2025 and October 2025. To register, please visit the links below.
11 July 2025: The value and purpose of different research designs for understanding what works
In this webinar we’ll be explaining why different kinds of research are needed to understand how interventions work, and why robust trials are needed to understand what works. We’ll explore the advantages and limitations of different kinds of research evidence; the difference between evidence strength, evidence standards and evidence hierarchies; and why experimental evidence is typically prioritised for identifying ‘what works’.
Register for this webinar here
19 September 2025: 10 Steps for Evaluation Success: Turning science-based theories into effective interventions
In this webinar, we’ll discuss how evaluation can help improve the quality of interventions at each stage of their development, and explain how the 10 steps map onto the Evidence Hub evidence standards. These steps include developing a theory of change, early stage and pilot evaluation, trials to find out what works, and scaling up.
Register for this webinar here
3 October 2025: Improving the home learning environment
What works to improve the home learning environment? In this webinar we’ll discuss several evidence-based factors including: the foundations of early learning, especially language learning; the role of parental scaffolding and the home environment; risks to children’s development; and how evidence-based interventions can effectively support children’s early learning at home, from birth to age 5.
Register for this webinar here
17 October 2025: Effective parenting support
What are effective ways to support parents, particularly those facing adversities? In this webinar we’ll discuss the kinds of complex adversities families may face, which may impact on children’s development and health; what we know about effective parenting interventions, before and after a child’s birth; and the kinds of positive outcomes which interventions can have on children’s development, parenting practice, and parental stress. We’ll also consider the need for equitable access to effective parenting interventions for families from minoritised ethnic backgrounds.
