Setting

Mrs Lesley Heale Corporate Director- Education and Children's Services Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council PO Box 20 Council House Solihull West Midlands B91 9QU

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Children’s services annual rating

Ofsted guidance published in May 2009 explained that the annual rating would derive from a new performance profile of the quality of services and outcomes for children and young people in each local area. This profile includes findings from across Ofsted’s inspection and regulation of services and settings for which the council has strategic or operational responsibilities, either alone or in partnership with others, together with data from the relevant Every Child Matters indicators in the new National Indicator Set (NIS).

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Children’s services annual rating

In considering the evidence in the profile to determine the children’s services rating for 2009 it has become clear that the continuing gaps in the data are significant, particularly those relating to aspects of social care and services for Looked After Children. Ofsted has decided therefore to use 2009 as a transitional year easing into the full application of the new system in 2010. As a consequence, although the performance profile remains central to Ofsted’s rating, we have interpreted the performance bands with flexibility and exercised professional judgement with caution.

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Children’s services annual rating

The annual rating derives from a four point scale:

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Children’s services annual rating

4 Performs excellently An organisation that significantly exceeds minimum requirements 3 Performs well An organisation that exceeds minimum requirements 2 Performs adequately An organisation that meets only minimum requirements 1 Performs poorly An organisation that does not meet minimum requirements

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Children’s services annual rating

Within each level there will be differing standards of provision. For example, a rating of ‘performs excellently’ does not mean all aspects of provision are perfect. Similarly, a rating of ‘performs poorly’ does not mean there are no adequate or even good aspects. Aviation House 125 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 40 40 40 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 020-7421-6716 Direct F 020-7421-5715 juliet.winstanley@ofsted.gov.uk

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Children’s services in Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council perform well.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

The overall effectiveness of the majority of inspected and regulated services and settings in Solihull is good. Children receive a good start in their care and education through high quality early years provision. However, the quality of education provision in primary and secondary schools is variable. While no schools are judged to be failing, the proportion of primary and secondary schools that is good or better is smaller than in similar areas and found nationally. Post-16 provision is variable in school sixth forms, ranging between outstanding in a third to adequate in the remainder; however, that in the sixth form and further education colleges is good. Judgements for staying safe and enjoying and achieving are good or better across most inspected and regulated services and settings.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

The quality of provision for children and young people whose circumstances make them vulnerable, though not inadequate, is not consistently good. Three of the five special schools and two of the three pupil referral units are good or better. The local authority fostering service is good.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Performance against the large majority of national indicators, including those for staying safe and enjoying and achieving, is in line with or better than similar areas and the national figure. The gap in achievement between children and young people whose circumstances have made them vulnerable and their peers is narrowing and is in line with similar areas and that found nationally.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

The children’s services rating is provided for the purpose of section 138 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. The rating of local authority children’s services will contribute significantly to the managing performance theme of each local authority’s Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) organisational assessment and therefore to the score for each local authority overall.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Juliet Winstanley Divisional Manager, CAA

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