Comprehensive review of the literature on inter-agency working with young children, incorporating findings from case studies of good practice in inter-agency working with young children and their families within Europe

The goal of reducing inequality and discrimination in educational attainment in Europe is challenging. This report explores successful inter-agency working with and for culturally and linguistically diverse families, including lower-SES, immigrant, and Romani families. This collaborative work can include services in fields such as education, health, social work, and welfare, among others.

Drawing on both the existing literature and eight case studies of successful inter-agency working, the report highlights reasons why inter-agency working has been suggested as a way to improve services for young children and their families. It also describes different ways to conceptualise inter-agency working, and ways of evaluating it. The authors summarise facilitating factors of inter-agency working, and barriers to success, and identify likely impacts for service providers, for families and for children. Additionally, they discuss the implications of the findings for good practice.

The report also describes each case study using examples of successful inter-agency working with a range of culturally and linguistically diverse groups. It includes the good-practices attended in Belgium, England, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Portugal, in order to identify what is common and what is particular about the cases.