A toolkit for the ethical and effective use of children's information
Published:
Ethical and effective use of children’s information is key for national and local governments to understand and meet children’s needs. This toolkit brings together guidance, resources and real-world examples for practitioners and data leads to strengthen information use in local authorities.
These resources were developed as part of the Children’s Information Project, which was funded by the Nuffield Foundation and hosted by the University of Oxford in partnership with the University of Sussex, the London School of Economics and Research in Practice, and involved working closely with four Local Authority partners and an extended Learning Network.
The ethical and effective use of children’s information is key for national and local governments to understand and meet children’s needs. Ethical and effective information use depends on key principles and methods. It includes clear practices that go beyond just gathering and analysing data. It is imperative that we create the right systems for ethical and effective information.
This digital toolkit brings together helpful guidance and tools for practitioners and data leads to strengthen information use. The resource explores:
- clear definitions to build shared understanding
- practical tools to support better information use
- examples of what ethical and effective information use looks like in local authority settings.
The resources are organised into key areas. We suggest starting with 'An introduction to the framework and structure', which provides an overview of the framework, structure and key concepts that are essential for ethical and effective use of children's information.
An introduction to the framework and structure
Eight information use practices
Behaviour and culture
Infrastructure and governance
Ethical and effective information use in practice
About the Children's Information Project
Developed as part of the Children’s Information Project Learning Network. The Project was a five-year initiative – running from 2021 to 2026 – funded by the Nuffield Foundation. The aim of the project was to understand and test how local authorities use information about and from children, young people and their families. The project team included researchers from the universities of Oxford and Sussex, the London School of Economics, Research in Practice, and four local authorities: Hampshire, North Yorkshire, Oldham and Rochdale.
Throughout the project Research in Practice hosted a learning network made up of practice leads and data leads from 20 local authorities. This digital toolkit draws on insights from research, project sites, and learning network discussions.
Offering useful guidance and tools for practitioners and data leads, the toolkit aims to improve how information is used. You’ll find clear definitions for shared understanding. There are practice tools for using information better. Plus, examples of how local authorities are using ethical and effective information use in practice.