The STAR pilot project is a complex intervention with multiple stakeholders and a wide geographic spread. The evaluation sought to engage with the various stakeholders to provide an understanding of the implementation, outcomes, and impacts of the pilot project, to identify the mechanisms through which outcomes were achieved, and to set out key learning to inform future policy development.
The evaluation used a mixed method, multi-respondent design. This allowed for the incorporation of the perspectives of a broad range of stakeholders and for both methodological and data triangulation.
The team used both qualitative and quantitative methods and also completed a literature review and Logic Model. Data collection methods included focus groups with service users and service providers based at all four sites, surveys, interviews with key stakeholders, and the analysis of quantitative data.
A programme theory approach, using a Realist Evaluation design underpinned the evaluation. Realist evaluations focus on the context of a service/programme, the outcomes i.e., what changed as a result, and the mechanisms that drove/led to the change(s). Such an approach asks, ‘what works, in which circumstances, and for whom?’.
A key goal of the evaluation was collaborative inquiry and to use opportunities to employ participatory approaches, particularly in focus groups with children and young people and parents/guardians from the Traveller and Roma communities. A community based participatory approach was supported and enhanced by input from the oversight Research Advisory Group. This approach was operationalised in a number of ways including through the use of co-design sessions with service users, photo-elicitation based focus groups, and co-facilitating groups with community-based researchers. By adopting a participatory approach, the evaluation team sought to enhance validity, credibility, appropriateness, and engagement with the evaluation.
The evaluation found that the STAR pilot project was experienced very positively by children and young people and their parents across the four pilot sites. Alongside this, the feedback received from the various education stakeholders, including school staff and STAR teams, was reflective and constructive in that it identified areas of good practice and opportunities for potential improvement and learnings that could be applied to the future policy development.
Overall the project was found to be an innovative, holistic programme which supports individuals and schools.
Initial findings were used to inform the development of the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy 2024-2030.
One of the key findings of the STAR pilot was to consider the potential advantages of community education link workers coming from the Traveller and/or Roma communities to help tackle educational disadvantage among Travellers and Roma.
This was followed by the announcement of €1.25 million in funding to establish 12 Community Link Worker roles to support Traveller and Roma children at risk of educational disadvantage. Additional funding has increased the number of link workers to 15.
You can read the evaluation report here.
To speak to our team about this work contact us here
Initial findings were used to inform the development of the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy 2024-2030.
You can read the evaluation report here.
