A mixed-methods realist evaluation of the Sutton Parenting Offer

Evaluation in progress, expected completion August 2026.

At a glance

The Sutton Parenting Offer is a local service for families in Sutton with children aged 0 to 25. It provides friendly, non-judgmental parenting support through group programmes, workshops, and peer-led activities delivered in community settings such as family hubs and schools.

This evaluation looks at how the Sutton Parenting Offer supports families in practice. It focuses on how families first engage with parenting support, what helps them feel comfortable taking part, and how positive changes are made and sustained over time.

The evaluation uses a mix of surveys, interviews, group discussions, creative activities with children, and analysis of existing service data. It also explores the wider value of the service for families, communities, and the local system, including value for money.

The evaluation aims to support learning and improvement by understanding what works, for whom, and in what circumstances.

What does the evaluation mean for Local Government?

This evaluation will support the local authority to develop a robust, shared understanding of how the Sutton Parenting Offer operates in practice and how it may contribute to outcomes for families over time.

Designed in collaboration with the PHIRST Light research team, the evaluation reflects local priorities and service realities. Local authority partners have been closely involved in shaping the evaluation remit, work packages, and research questions, helping to ensure the evidence generated is relevant, proportionate, and useful for local decision-making.

For the local authority, the evaluation will:

Provide a structured way to bring together information about a complex service delivered across multiple teams and settings;

Support understanding of how families engage with the Offer and what may enable or prevent access, particularly for families with additional needs;

Generate evidence to inform management planning, including sustainability, workforce resilience and service continuity;

Explore the potential social and preventative value of the service, alongside financial considerations to support future investment and commissioning decisions.

The evaluation will also support reflective practice within the local authority by helping teams test assumptions, clarify service aims, and identify areas for development as the work progresses.

By raising the profile of the Sutton Parenting Offer across the organisation and supporting shared ownership of the learning, the evaluation will strengthen the local authority’s ability to use the findings to inform future service design, planning, and improvement.

How are the public involved in the evaluation?

Parents, carers, and community members are involved throughout the evaluation to ensure it reflects real-life experiences and priorities.

Public contributors were involved in shaping the evaluation during its early development, helping to inform the focus, research questions, and approach. A local public involvement group linked to the Sutton Parenting Offer has been established to support the evaluation as it progresses.

Public contributors will help review study materials, advise on how families and children are involved, contribute to interpreting findings, and support the development of clear, accessible outputs.

By listening to families and involving the public at key stages, the evaluation aims to ensure parenting support feels welcoming, relevant, and helpful. Findings will be shared in clear, accessible ways so families can see how their experiences have shaped learning and improvement.