Joint area review

Joint area review of Report for children and young people Herefordshire

p.1

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

p.1

• 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 Herefordshire children and young people’s report 2

p.1

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, to find out what they had to say.

p.2

What did the inspectors do?

Eleven inspectors visited Herefordshire in September and October 2005 so they could see what life is like for children and young people in the area. They:

p.2

What did the inspectors do?

™ listened to a number of children and young people they met at youth centres, community centres and schools, especially in the South Wye area of Hereford City and in Kington and its surrounding area; ™ talked with adults working with children and young people (like social workers, teachers, youth workers, health visitors, doctors, police officers and counsellors); ™ spoke to a few parents, as well as other people caring for children; ™ heard from the council and other agencies what it thinks about the services it provides for children; ™ read quite a few reports; and ™ visited services used by children, such as youth clubs, to see things for themselves.

p.2

What did the inspectors do?

The inspectors also looked at how well particular children are doing (like those with a learning difficulty or disability or in council care). Herefordshire children and young people’s report 3

p.2

Herefordshire?

™ overall, children and young people are doing well compared to children in other parts of the country; ™ they are healthier than average; ™ they achieve quite good educational results; ™ many make a good contribution to their schools and the area in which they live; ™ most are prepared quite well for working life; ™ those looked after by the council do as well at school as similar children in other parts of the country;

p.3

Herefordshire?

™ most children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities go to their local primary and secondary schools (rather than to special schools); ™ many young people and families live in inadequate housing; ™ a higher than average proportion of children and young people looked after by the council live with families, rather than in children’s homes; ™ a high proportion of young people go on to further education and training or to jobs when they reach the age of 16, although quite a lot of the jobs are low paid and with poor prospects for the future.

p.3

told inspectors about your area?

Children and young people say they usually have some influence on how things are run at school but less so for the area where they live. The inspectors agreed with this view. Herefordshire children and young people’s report 4

p.3

told inspectors about your area?

A minority of children and young people say they are worried about their safety in their local area, though they feel safer at school.

p.4

told inspectors about your area?

Many children and young people said they would like it if there were more things to do in their leisure time. This was particularly so for older teenagers, those living in more rural areas and those who aren’t very interested in sport. Inspectors understood this point of view but felt that what is available compared reasonably well with similar areas. Providing a wide range of activities (and getting to and from them) is always going to be something of a problem outside of large towns and cities.

p.4

young people in my area?

™ The help provided by health visitors, doctors and nurses to keep children and young people healthy. ™ Health education in schools, especially on healthy eating and physical activity. ™ Support for young people with mental health problems (except for those with the most serious problems). ™ The way schools help children and young people to do well and enjoy their education. ™ The fact that most children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities attend their local primary and secondary schools and do well in their education. ™ The way schools in particular listen to children and young people’s opinions. ™ The way schools and the youth service help young people to grow up as helpful, thoughtful people. ™ The progress made by most young people in education and training from age 16. ™ The extra help being given to children and young people and families in some of the less prosperous parts of Herefordshire.

p.4

young people in my area?

Herefordshire children and young people’s report 5

p.5

change to make things better for children and young people?

™ The difficult journeys for some people to get specialist health services. ™ The steps taken to protect some children and young people from being abused or neglected. ™ The support for the families of children and young people with disabilities. ™ The way services don’t always work very well together to help those with the most serious problems. ™ The support for some young people who are not doing very well at secondary school. ™ The fact that there aren’t enough places for young people who want to do apprenticeships when they leave school. ™ The shortage of suitable homes for young single people and for some families.

p.5