Setting

Aviation House 125 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 0300 123 1231 Textphone 0161 618 8524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 020 7421 6666 Direct F 020 7421 5633 Juliet.Winstanley@ofsted.gov.uk

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Mr Andrew Fraser Director of Education, Children's Services and Leisure London Borough of Enfield PO Box 56, Civic Centre Silver Street, Enfield London EN1 3XQ

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Annual children’s services assessment

Ofsted guidance published in July 2010 explains that the annual assessment of children’s services is derived from the performance profile of the quality of services and outcomes for children and young people in each local area. This performance profile includes findings from across Ofsted’s inspection and regulation of services and settings for which the local authority has strategic or operational responsibilities, either alone or in partnership with others, together with data from the relevant indicators in the National Indicator Set (NIS).

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Annual children’s services assessment

In reaching the assessment of children’s services, Ofsted has taken account of all inspected and regulated services for children and young people, arrangements for making sure children are safe and stay safe and performance against national measures. More weight has been given to the outcomes of Ofsted’s inspections and regulatory visits (Blocks A and B in the performance profile).

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Annual children’s services assessment

The annual assessment derives from a four point scale:

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Annual children’s services assessment

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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Annual children’s services assessment

Within each level there will be differing standards of provision. For example, an assessment of ‘performs excellently’ does not mean all aspects of provision are perfect. Similarly, an assessment of ‘performs poorly’ does not mean there are no adequate or even good aspects. As in 2009, while the performance profile remains central to Ofsted’s assessment, meeting or not meeting the minimum requirements alone does not define the grade. The assessment has involved the application of inspector judgement.

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Children’s services assessment Performs well (3)

Children’s services in the London Borough of Enfield perform well.

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Children’s services assessment Performs well (3)

The majority of services, settings and institutions inspected by Ofsted are good or better. There is very little inadequate provision of any kind across the borough. The majority of early years and childcare provision is good or better, although this is still a lower proportion than in similar areas and nationally, but inspection outcomes for childminders have improved over the last year. The large majority of both nursery and primary schools are at least good. The overall effectiveness of secondary schools has improved over the last year and the large majority is now good or better and none are inadequate, although a third is only satisfactory. Provision for learners in the majority of school sixth forms is good or better, but seven of the 17 sixth forms are only satisfactory. There are two general further education colleges, one is good and one is satisfactory. Overall, the proportion of good quality post-16 provision is

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Children’s services assessment Performs well (3)

Most special schools and all three pupil referral units are at least good. The local authority’s fostering and adoption agencies are both good. The inspection of safeguarding and looked after children services which took place in May 2010 found that both services were good, with good capacity for further improvement.

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Children’s services assessment Performs well (3)

The children’s services assessment judgement is supported by outcomes which are at least in line with appropriate comparators for most performance measures. However, levels of childhood obesity are higher than the average for similar areas. Most key performance measures for educational attainment are in line with or above the average for similar areas. Strategies to reduce the difference between the achievements of particular groups whose circumstances make them vulnerable and others of the same age are having mixed success. For example, achievement gaps have widened for 11- and 16-year-olds from low-income families, but are narrowing well at the age of 19.

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Children’s services assessment Performs well (3)

Key areas for further development ƒ Maintain the momentum of improvement in the overall quality of universal provision, especially early years and childcare and post-16 provision, so that more is good or better. ƒ Reduce levels of childhood obesity.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The very large majority of services and settings for children and young people are good at encouraging them to live healthily. Overall, health outcomes are generally in line with appropriate comparators. The numbers of babies being breast-fed is above the national average. However, levels of obesity for both five- and 11-year-olds went up again slightly in the last year and are higher than in similar areas. A healthy weight strategy is in place to address this concern and the numbers of children and young people taking part in sport regularly are comparatively high and increasing. Enfield has a slightly higher rate of teenage pregnancy than is average for an outer London borough, but the rate of reduction is broadly in line with averages. Support for children and young people with mental health difficulties has been strengthened. Health provision for children looked after by the local authority is good.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The large majority of settings and services make a good contribution to helping children and young people stay safe. There are good arrangements in place to monitor, respond to and address the needs of runaway children and young people. The recent inspection of safeguarding and looked after children services judged both services as good. The inspection found that safeguarding services have continued to improve despite a significant increase in demand over the last two years. The safety of children and young people is a high priority and staff at all levels are determined and resolute about securing good outcomes. The needs of children in care are given a high priority.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The large majority of Enfield’s secondary schools and the very large majority of primary schools are good at helping children and young people to enjoy their learning and achieve well. There has been a significant improvement, from a low base, in the numbers of five-year-olds achieving a good level of development by the end of their reception year at school and performance is now broadly average. The local authority’s strategies are having some success in helping children who are not doing very well in their learning to reach the level of other five-year-olds. At the age of 11, test results are also broadly average, but performance dipped slightly in 2009. There has been a slight increase in the number of primary schools not meeting the expected standards in these tests. Too few schools took part in the tests in 2010 to produce provisional data for this year. More 16-year-olds achieved five good GCSEs

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Outcomes for children and young people

including English and mathematics than in previous years and results are broadly in line with the average for similar areas. However, the numbers of young people getting good science results remain below average. Only two secondary schools did not meet the expected standards at GCSE level, a reduction from three in the previous year.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Opportunities for children and young people to influence decision-making and service design are good. The development of the Children in Care Council is enabling children and young people in care to have an influence on service development. The range of activities for children and young people in the area has improved and above average numbers of 15-year-olds are taking part in organised activities outside of school. By most measures the youth offending service works well. The rate of re- offending by young people in Enfield has improved significantly and is lower than in similar areas.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Educational provision for young people after the age of 16 is adequate overall. The numbers of young people aged 16 to 18 not in work, education or training continues to fall and performance is broadly average. More young people are gaining GCSE and A level or equivalent qualifications by the age of 19 and again results are broadly in line with the average for similar areas. The number of young people from low- income families getting the higher level of qualification by the age of 19 has been consistently above the average in similar areas and improved again last year. The achievement gap is narrowing well for this group of young people. The local authority provides good support to children in care and care leavers to help them do well in adult life.

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Prospects for improvement

The recent inspection of safeguarding and looked after children services judged that services have experienced, effective leadership and management and good capacity to improve. Partnership working is good. Services have remained responsive despite the significant rise in demand, and there is a track record of improvement in children’s social care. Workforce planning has been effective in minimising reliance on agency staff in social care posts. There is evidence of good value for money.

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Prospects for improvement

Overall, there is a general trend of improvement, both in terms of the quality of provision and outcomes for children and young people. However, inspection outcomes for early years and childcare and post-16 provision, although improving, are not as good as found elsewhere so there is more to do to raise the overall effectiveness of universal provision. Some long-term challenges remain, such as health inequalities across the borough. Appropriate priorities outlined in the Children and Young People’s Plan show that the local authority and its partners have the ambition to tackle these issues. Performance monitoring is robust and clearly identifies where more focused work is needed to improve outcomes.

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Prospects for improvement

This children’s services assessment is provided in accordance with section 138 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.

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Prospects for improvement

Juliet Winstanley Divisional Manager, Children’s Services Assessment

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