Setting

Report for children and young people about the services they receive in Wolverhampton

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• Being healthy • Staying safe • Enjoying and doing well at school and as they grow up • Making a positive contribution to society • Being successful in whatever they choose to do when they are adults Wolverhampton children and young people’s report 2

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Why should I read this?

The law says that inspectors must look at and then report on how well local services serve children and young people in an area. This is called a “review”. Inspectors visited your area recently. You might like to read this, or the full report which you can find on Ofsted’s website, to find out what they had to say.

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What did the inspectors do?

Eight inspectors visited Wolverhampton in February and March 2007 so that they could get a feel of what life is like for children and young people in the area. They:

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What did the inspectors do?

™ talked and listened to a number of children and young people, ™ talked with adults working with children and young people (like social workers, teachers, youth workers, health visitors, nurses, doctors, police officers and councillors) ™ spoke to parents and other people caring for children ™ met with school councils’ representatives and members of the Youth Banks ™ heard from the council and other agencies what it thinks about the services it provides for children ™ read a lot of reports ™ visited services in the Dovecotes neighbourhood to see things for themselves.

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What did the inspectors do?

The inspectors also looked at how well particular children are doing, like those children in council care or those who have a learning difficulty or disability.

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How well are children and young people doing in Wolverhampton?

™ They are generally healthy. ™ Most appear safe. ™ They achieve adequately in school and continue to improve. ™ Most are involved in a wide range of activities. ™ Many get involved in school councils and Youth Banks. ™ Many give their views about what services are like and what should happen, including children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. ™ High numbers of young people stay on in education after they reach the age of 16. Wolverhampton children and young people’s report 3

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How well are children and young people doing in Wolverhampton?

™ Too few young people age 16-19 are in training or employment.

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your area?

™ Most feel quite or very healthy. ™ Most feel quite safe or very safe in school and in their local area. ™ Most think they are doing quite well or very well at school. ™ Most get involved in activities at school and in their local area and find it easy to find things to do. ™ The majority said they could make some difference to the way things are run at school and in their local area. ™ Most find it easy to get advice and information when they need it.

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in my area?

™ Services for children and young people are good overall. ™ The council and other organisations care about what children and young people think. They work hard to get their views and take these into account when planning services. ™ All the different services work very well together to provide the services children, young people and their families need and the inspectors think that services will continue to get better. ™ Parents and carers get good support from lots of different services to help them care well for their children. ™ Most children and young people receive good advice and support to help them be healthy and stay healthy. ™ Concerns about children who might be at risk of harm are followed up properly and speedily. ™ Children at risk of serious abuse or neglect all have qualified social workers to support them and try to protect them. ™ Looked after children and young people leaving care generally get

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in my area?

good support. ™ Young children make excellent progress and get very good quality care in nurseries and day care ™ Schools are very well supported, and overall pupils make satisfactory progress, with some making very good progress. ™ Behaviour and attendance at school have improved. ™ Children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, and their families, receive good support. Wolverhampton children and young people’s report 4

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in my area?

™ Good preventative work and a range of activities are available for young people at risk of offending. Anti-social behaviour and re- offending is reducing. ™ Young people receive good careers education and guidance ™ High numbers stay on in education after age 16 years and can choose from a wide range of subjects.

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What things are not so good for children and young people?

™ The number of teenage pregnancies is too high and not enough is being done by agencies working together to help prevent this. ™ Some adults who work with children and young people start work before the results of the proper checks are received on their suitability to work with them. ™ While most children and young people get the support they need, some do not always get the right help to meet their needs. ™ There are delays in arranging alternative education for some young people who are excluded from school. ™ Levels of achievement in mathematics and English are too low. ™ There are not enough work-based apprenticeships, and training and employment opportunities for young people. ™ There is not enough suitable housing for all the young people who need, or want, to live independently .

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