Step Change : an evaluation

Action For Children and three local authorities delivered a one year programme for adolescents on the edge of care or custody. The partnership aimed to improve long-term outcomes for young people and reduce the need for care or custody by: decreasing risk-taking behaviours increasing engagement in education, employment and training (EET) improving relationships between young people and their families to avoid family breakdow

EAL in the mainstream classroom:Developing and testing EAL training for classroom teachers at GCSE

EAL in the Mainstream Classroom was a programme delivered by a partnership of Challenge Partners, Lampton School, and Hounslow Language Service which aims to support English as an Additional Language (EAL) pupils in the mainstream classroom across different subjects. It was designed to build expertise and capacity among classroom teachers so they can provide the best teaching and learning for EAL pupils, so reducing the need for specialist support. Classroom teachers were provided with three days of training in how to plan lessons with EAL pupils in mind, develop specific resources, and differentiate between pupils with different language skills. At the core of the approach was a focus on academic language, supporting classroom teachers’ use and understanding of grammar, core vocabulary, and spoken language, which are key to helping EAL pupils within a whole class context, and which are also likely to have benefits for children more broadly.This project was funded with Unbound Philanthropy and The Bell Foundation, as part of a £2m funding round looking to boost attainment for EAL pupils, in the context of continuously rising rates of EAL pupils and a lack of interventions to support their learning. A pilot evaluation in 58 schools indicated that this approach was ready to be tested more widely using a Randomised Controlled Trial.This efficacy trial found that EAL pupils in EAL in the Mainstream Classroom schools made the equivalent of one month’s additional progress, with attainment measured using GSCE science scores (either GCSE combined or the three separate science GCSEs). This result has a moderate to high security rating.For secondary and subgroup analyses, among pupils eligible for Free School Meals, the estimated effect size for GCSE science scores was equivalent to one month’s additional progress. Pupils also made the equivalent of one month’s additional progress as measured through GCSE English Language scores, although they made the equivalent of no month’s additional progress in GCSE history scores. While these results show evidence of promise, as with any study, there is uncertainty around these results and they should be interpreted with caution. Some factors which could have limited its impact included training attendance and task completion issues, which were largely due to difficulties related to teachers’ capacity. Also, there was a lower amount of schools recruited than planned and evaluators encountered difficulty in collecting key data for EAL pupils.The headline finding, combined with further analyses and the implementation and process evaluation, provides tentative evidence about the promise of this programme and the approach of improving the attainment of EAL pupils in mainstream classroom settings through professional development for teachers across different subjects. However, as Challenge Partners are no longer delivering the programme, the EEF has no plans for a further trial of this programme

EAL in the mainstream classroom:Developing and testing EAL training for classroom teachers at GCSE

EAL in the Mainstream Classroom was a programme delivered by a partnership of Challenge Partners, Lampton School, and Hounslow Language Service which aims to support English as an Additional Language (EAL) pupils in the mainstream classroom across different subjects. It was designed to build expertise and capacity among classroom teachers so they can provide the best teaching and learning for EAL pupils, so reducing the need for specialist support. Classroom teachers were provided with three days of training in how to plan lessons with EAL pupils in mind, develop specific resources, and differentiate between pupils with different language skills. At the core of the approach was a focus on academic language, supporting classroom teachers’ use and understanding of grammar, core vocabulary, and spoken language, which are key to helping EAL pupils within a whole class context, and which are also likely to have benefits for children more broadly.This project was funded with Unbound Philanthropy and The Bell Foundation, as part of a £2m funding round looking to boost attainment for EAL pupils, in the context of continuously rising rates of EAL pupils and a lack of interventions to support their learning. A pilot evaluation in 58 schools indicated that this approach was ready to be tested more widely using a Randomised Controlled Trial.This efficacy trial found that EAL pupils in EAL in the Mainstream Classroom schools made the equivalent of one month’s additional progress, with attainment measured using GSCE science scores (either GCSE combined or the three separate science GCSEs). This result has a moderate to high security rating.For secondary and subgroup analyses, among pupils eligible for Free School Meals, the estimated effect size for GCSE science scores was equivalent to one month’s additional progress. Pupils also made the equivalent of one month’s additional progress as measured through GCSE English Language scores, although they made the equivalent of no month’s additional progress in GCSE history scores. While these results show evidence of promise, as with any study, there is uncertainty around these results and they should be interpreted with caution. Some factors which could have limited its impact included training attendance and task completion issues, which were largely due to difficulties related to teachers’ capacity. Also, there was a lower amount of schools recruited than planned and evaluators encountered difficulty in collecting key data for EAL pupils.The headline finding, combined with further analyses and the implementation and process evaluation, provides tentative evidence about the promise of this programme and the approach of improving the attainment of EAL pupils in mainstream classroom settings through professional development for teachers across different subjects. However, as Challenge Partners are no longer delivering the programme, the EEF has no plans for a further trial of this programme

Making data a first class scientific output : data citation and publication by NERC's Environmental Data Centres

The NERC Science Information Strategy Data Citation and Publication project aims to develop and formalise a method for formally citing and publishing the datasets stored in its environmental data centres. It is believed that this will act as an incentive for scientists, who often invest a great deal of effort in creating datasets, to submit their data to a suitable data repository where it can properly be archived and curated. Data citation and publication will also provide a mechanism for data producers to receive credit for their work, thereby encouraging them to share their data more freely

Yorkshire Enhanced Stop Smoking study (YESS): a protocol for a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect of adding a personalised smoking cessation intervention to a lung cancer screening programme

Introduction:Integration of smoking cessation (SC) into lung cancer screening (LCS) is essential to optimise clinical and cost effectiveness. The most effective way to use this “teachable moment” is unclear. The Yorkshire Enhanced Stop Smoking study (YESS) will measure the effectiveness of a SC service integrated within the Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial (YLST) and will test the efficacy of a personalised SC intervention, incorporating incidental findings detected on the low-dose computed tomography scan performed as part of YLST.Methods and analysis: Unless explicitly declined, all smokers enrolled in YLST will see a Smoking Cessation Practitioner (SCP) at baseline and receive smoking cessation support over 4-weeks comprising behavioural support, pharmacotherapy and/or a commercially available e-cigarette. Eligible smokers will be randomised (1:1 in permuted blocks of random size up to size 6) to receive either an enhanced, personalised smoking cessation support package, including CT scan images, or continued SBP. Anticipated recruitment is 1040 smokers (January 2019 – December 2020). The primary objective is to measure 7-day point prevalent carbon monoxide (CO) validated smoking cessation after 3-months. Secondary outcomes include CO validated cessation at 4-weeks and 12-months, self-reported continuous cessation at 4-weeks, 3-month and 12-months, attempts to quit smoking and changes in psychological variables, including perceived risk of lung cancer, motivation to quit smoking tobacco, confidence and efficacy beliefs (self and response) at all follow up points. A process evaluation will explore under which circumstances and on which groups the intervention works best, test intervention fidelity and theory test the mechanisms of intervention impact.Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the East Midlands-Derby Research Ethics Committee (18/EM/0199) and the Health Research Authority/Health and Care Research Wales. Results will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals, presentation at conferences and via the YLST website. Trial registration number: ISRCTN63825779; NIH ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0375011

Fishers who rely on mangroves: Modelling and mapping the global intensity of mangrove-associated fisheries

Mangroves are critical nursery habitats for fish and invertebrates, providing livelihoods for many coastal communities. Despite their importance, there is currently no estimate of the number of fishers engaged in mangrove associated fisheries, nor on the fishing intensity associated with mangroves at a global scale. We address these gaps by developing a global model of mangrove associated fisher numbers and mangrove fishing intensity. To develop the model, we undertook a three-round Delphi process with mangrove fisheries experts to identify the key drivers of mangrove fishing intensity. We then developed a conceptual model of intensity of mangrove fishing using those factors identified both as being important and for which appropriate global data could be found or developed. These factors were non-urban population, distance to market, distance to mangroves and other fishing grounds, and storm events. By projecting this conceptual model using geospatial datasets, we were able to estimate the number and distribution of mangrove associated fishers and the intensity of fishing in mangroves. We estimate there are 4.1 million mangrove associated fishers globally, with the highest number of mangrove fishers found in Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Brazil. Mangrove fishing intensity was greatest throughout Asia, and to a lesser extent West and Central Africa, and Central and South America

Yorkshire Enhanced Stop Smoking (YESS) study: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect of adding a personalised smoking cessation intervention to a lung cancer screening programme

Introduction:Integration of smoking cessation (SC) into lung cancer screening (LCS) is essential to optimise clinical and cost effectiveness. The most effective way to use this “teachable moment” is unclear. The Yorkshire Enhanced Stop Smoking study (YESS) will measure the effectiveness of a SC service integrated within the Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial (YLST) and will test the efficacy of a personalised SC intervention, incorporating incidental findings detected on the low-dose computed tomography scan performed as part of YLST.Methods and analysis: Unless explicitly declined, all smokers enrolled in YLST will see a Smoking Cessation Practitioner (SCP) at baseline and receive smoking cessation support over 4-weeks comprising behavioural support, pharmacotherapy and/or a commercially available e-cigarette. Eligible smokers will be randomised (1:1 in permuted blocks of random size up to size 6) to receive either an enhanced, personalised smoking cessation support package, including CT scan images, or continued SBP. Anticipated recruitment is 1040 smokers (January 2019 – December 2020). The primary objective is to measure 7-day point prevalent carbon monoxide (CO) validated smoking cessation after 3-months. Secondary outcomes include CO validated cessation at 4-weeks and 12-months, self-reported continuous cessation at 4-weeks, 3-month and 12-months, attempts to quit smoking and changes in psychological variables, including perceived risk of lung cancer, motivation to quit smoking tobacco, confidence and efficacy beliefs (self and response) at all follow up points. A process evaluation will explore under which circumstances and on which groups the intervention works best, test intervention fidelity and theory test the mechanisms of intervention impact.Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the East Midlands-Derby Research Ethics Committee (18/EM/0199) and the Health Research Authority/Health and Care Research Wales. Results will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals, presentation at conferences and via the YLST website. Trial registration number: ISRCTN63825779; NIH ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0375011

Fishers who rely on mangroves: Modelling and mapping the global intensity of mangrove-associated fisheries

Mangroves are critical nursery habitats for fish and invertebrates, providing livelihoods for many coastal communities. Despite their importance, there is currently no estimate of the number of fishers engaged in mangrove associated fisheries, nor on the fishing intensity associated with mangroves at a global scale. We address these gaps by developing a global model of mangrove associated fisher numbers and mangrove fishing intensity. To develop the model, we undertook a three-round Delphi process with mangrove fisheries experts to identify the key drivers of mangrove fishing intensity. We then developed a conceptual model of intensity of mangrove fishing using those factors identified both as being important and for which appropriate global data could be found or developed. These factors were non-urban population, distance to market, distance to mangroves and other fishing grounds, and storm events. By projecting this conceptual model using geospatial datasets, we were able to estimate the number and distribution of mangrove associated fishers and the intensity of fishing in mangroves. We estimate there are 4.1 million mangrove associated fishers globally, with the highest number of mangrove fishers found in Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Brazil. Mangrove fishing intensity was greatest throughout Asia, and to a lesser extent West and Central Africa, and Central and South America

The re-emergence of sexually transmissible multidrug resistant Shigella flexneri 3a, England, United Kingdom

Acknowledgements: This study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Gastrointestinal Infections, a partnership between the UK Health Security Agency, the University of Liverpool, and the University of Warwick. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, the UK Health Security Agency or the Department of Health and Social Care. This work was also supported by an MRC grant (MR/R020787/1, K.S.B) held and BBSRC grants (BB/V009184/1, K.S.B., M.D.S., and BB/X003051/1 K.S.B.).Funder: NIHR HPRU in Gastrointestinal Infections at University of Liverpool, Grant Reference: NIHR-INF-1676AbstractShigellosis is an enteric infection that transmits through the faecal-oral route, which can occur during sex between men who have sex with men (MSM). Between 2009 and 2014, an epidemic of sexually transmissible Shigella flexneri 3a occurred in England that subsequently declined. However, from 2019 to 2021, despite SARS-CoV-2 restrictions, S. flexneri 3a continued to re-emerge. We explored possible drivers of re-emergence by comparing host demography and pathogen genomics. Cases were primarily among 35–64 year old men in London. Genomic analyses of 502 bacterial isolates showed that the majority (58%) of re-emerging MSM strains were a clonal replacement of the original, with reduced antimicrobial resistance, conservation of plasmid col156_1, and two SNPs with 19 predicted effects. The absence of major changes in the pathogen or host demographics suggest that other factors may have driven the re-emergence of S. flexneri 3a and highlight the need for further work in the area.</jats:p