According to the literature, practitioners' use of research appears to play an important role in facilitating high-quality applied practice. Previous studies indicate that teachers have a positive attitude towards using research, but that they are rarely successful in implementing it in their actual practice. There appears to be a scarcity of studies that have considered the non-teacher practitioner. This paper analyses interviews conducted with non-teacher practitioners (n=20) who work in extracurricular programmes of German primary and secondary all-day schools. The interview data suggests that some practitioners gather evidence to inform their practices. A deeper analysis of two cases revealed how research was transferred into action. They provided examples of how practitioners could use research to improve their approach with children and young people. The conclusion of this paper emphasises the need to foster evidence-based practices, as well as rigorous problem-solving and decision-making, in the field of extended education.