Setting

Report for children and young people about the services they receive in North East Lincolnshire

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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 North East Lincolnshire 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, www.ofsted.gov.uk to find out what they had to say.

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What did the inspectors do?

Eight inspectors visited North East Lincolnshire in January 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 with 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, 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 Parliament ™ 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 East Marsh 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 North East Lincolnshire?

™ Many children and young people are doing better now than in the past. ™ Most children and young people have access to suitable health care. ™ More teenagers get pregnant than in other parts of the country and more young people than in other areas are admitted to hospital as a result of substance abuse, such as alcohol poisoning and drug misuse. ™ Not enough young people have their mental health needs met properly. ™ Children and young people appear to be safe. Those who need the most protection are supported well but a few who may require help do not have their needs met as quickly. There has been a good reduction in the number of children and young people killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents. More children and young people in the area North East Lincolnshire children and young people’s report 3

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How well are children and young people doing in North East Lincolnshire?

live in households where there is domestic violence and drug or alcohol misuse. ™ School children up to the age of 11 do as well as children elsewhere. Results at secondary schools are improving, but, by the age of 16, not enough young people do as well as those in other parts of the country. ™ Children and young people who are looked after by the council are attending school more often and achieving better results than they used to. ™ Children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities find it hard to use the leisure and recreational activities that are available for other young people in the area. ™ Some children and young people are involved well in discussions and decision making about issues that affect them, especially those who are looked after by the council. However, not all young people are involved as well as they could be. ™ Young carers do not receive enough help to enable them to take part

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How well are children and young people doing in North East Lincolnshire?

fully in educational and leisure activities. ™ Young people over the age of 16 generally do as well as in other parts of the country, although their results vary depending on where they continue their education. More young people who are looked after continue in education, employment or training after the age of 16 than elsewhere. Support to help young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities prepare for adult life is not as well planned as it could be.

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about your area?

™ Most children and young people feel safe in school and their local neighbourhood, although a few are concerned about bullying. Young people are anxious that the new anti- bullying strategy has taken a long time to develop and would like it to be put in place quickly. ™ Young people on the Youth Council and the Children’s Participation Group said they were involved well in developing the Children and Young People’s Plan for the area. ™ Young people from the East Marsh area were involved well in developing and managing the neighbourhood tour for the inspectors. They knew a lot about the local issues and understood how the council made decisions on how to improve the area. ™ Children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities who use respite services felt they were involved well in reviewing and North East Lincolnshire children and young people’s report 4

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about your area?

developing this provision. However, others do not feel they are involved well enough in decisions about services they use.

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about your area?

™ Most young people who need help to find somewhere to live are placed in suitable accommodation. However, some report that they do not feel safe because of the level of crime in the area in which they live and some young people who have offended are not found suitable accommodation.

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in your area?

™ The council is getting better at meeting the needs of children and young people in the area. ™ Services are working well together to develop new and improved ways of working in order to support children and young people. ™ The council wants to involve more children and young people in making decisions about services and in contributing to their local communities. ™ Children and young people are generally healthy and safe. Children who are most in need are protected well. ™ Fewer young people are absent or being excluded from school. ™ Results for young people at 16 are improving. ™ Children and young people who are looked after by the council are involved well in decisions that affect them and have good support to help them do well at school. ™ There is good support to reduce the level of anti-social behaviour in the area.

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

™ Too many children and young people with mental health needs have to wait too long to receive help or do not receive any help at all. ™ The anti-bullying strategy has taken too long to be developed and put in place. ™ Too many young people do not make fast enough educational progress between the ages and 11 and 16. ™ Young carers do not receive enough support to help them take a full part in educational and leisure activities. ™ Children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities do not have enough opportunities to take part in leisure activities. Support to help them move into adult life is not planned well enough. North East Lincolnshire children and young people’s report 5

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

™ Some young people who have offended and are coming back to the area are not provided with suitable accommodation or sufficient education.

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