In the UK Centres of Excellence were funded by the DfES to model high quality, multi-agency, early years services for young children and their families. They were precursors to Children's Centres to be established across the UK. Early Excellence Centres were evaluated at national and local levels. This article will draw on data from local evaluations of two contrasting Centres of Excellence: interviews with staff to explore shifts in their perspectives on the rhetoric and reality of multi-agency team work; and responses by staff to vignettes representing conflicts and dilemmas in the delivery of services. The article explores methodological complexities of accessing values underpinning action in practice in multi-agency teams working in inner cities. (Contains 4 tables and 5 figures.)