Joint area review

Joint area review of Report for children and young people Salford

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

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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 Salford children’s and young people 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 Salford recently. You might like to read this report, or the full one, to find out what they had to say.

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What did the inspectors do?

Eight inspectors with experience in education, social services, health, post-16 provision and local government visited Salford in December 2005 and January 2006 so they could see 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 they met at youth centres, community centres and schools, especially in the Little Hulton area

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What did the inspectors do?

™ talked to adults working with children and young people (such as social workers, teachers, youth workers, voluntary workers, health visitors, doctors, police officers and counsellors)

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What did the inspectors do?

™ spoke to some parents, as well as other people caring for children

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What did the inspectors do?

™ met some school council representatives, children and young people looked after by the council, members of the Salford Children and Young People’s Partnership Board, and young people from the Proud and Loud Disability Group

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What did the inspectors do?

™ heard from the council and other agencies what they think about the services they provide for children

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What did the inspectors do?

™ read a number of reports and documents produced by the council and other organisations

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What did the inspectors do?

™ visited services used by children to see things, at first hand, for themselves.

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What did the inspectors do?

The inspectors also looked at how well particular children are doing (such as those with a learning difficulty and/or disability, those in council care and those who are at risk of exclusion from school). Salford children’s and young people report 3

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How well are children and young people doing in Salford?

™ the majority of children and young people are healthy, but there are some who do not lead very healthy lifestyles – they smoke, eat unhealthy foods too often and take little or no exercise

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How well are children and young people doing in Salford?

™ most children and young people in Salford are safe, although there is a minority who do not feel safe in some parts of the area

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How well are children and young people doing in Salford?

™ primary children generally achieve well and reach the educational standards expected of them. Some secondary pupils, however, do not achieve as well and have poor attendance records

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How well are children and young people doing in Salford?

™ many young people make a good contribution to their schools and their local community

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How well are children and young people doing in Salford?

™ most young people are prepared for working life; however, some of those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, are not

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How well are children and young people doing in Salford?

™ children looked after by the council generally do well at school.

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How well are children and young people doing in Salford?

™ in the more prosperous parts of Salford, educational standards, health, and other opportunities for children and young people are often better than in those areas where there is poor-quality housing, vandalism and petty crime

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How well are children and young people doing in Salford?

™ there are too many children and young people looked after by the council, and too many are placed outside Salford

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How well are children and young people doing in Salford?

™ the council is trying to meet, and talk to, more children and young people to find out what they think it is like to live in Salford

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How well are children and young people doing in Salford?

™ some local businesses are making good efforts to provide work experiences for young people

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How well are children and young people doing in Salford?

™ the police and local health authority are working closely with the council and local communities to make living in Salford much better. Salford children’s and young people report 4

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your area?

™ An increasing number of children and young people believe that what they say has some influence on how things are run at school or in their area.

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your area?

™ A minority of children and young people do not feel safe in some parts of Salford because of crime, vandalism and gangs of young people. This is influencing the freedom of these young people to participate in local activities, and to feel safe walking to and from local clubs and shops.

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your area?

™ Some children with physical disabilities do not feel that their difficulties are sufficiently understood or appreciated by many adults and other young people in Salford. For example, they feel that there are not always enough local buses, with suitable access, to help them get about and live an independent life.

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in my area?

™ There is some good support from schools and local communities to help children and young people stop smoking, eat more healthily and take more exercise.

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in my area?

™ The council is working hard to improve the condition of houses and other buildings in all areas of Salford, and they recognise they must do more.

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in my area?

™ The police and local communities are working hard to make all areas of Salford safe, but they recognise they must do more.

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in my area?

™ If children and young people suffer abuse or physical harm, the council works hard to protect them.

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in my area?

™ Most children do well in primary school. Many more secondary pupils are attending school more regularly and they are achieving better standards. A few need to improve both their behaviour and attendance so that they can achieve their full potential. Salford children’s and young people report 5

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in my area?

™ The council and other adults are listening more seriously to what children and young people think about living in Salford.

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in my area?

™ More young people than ever before are going on to further education, training or some type of employment when they leave school.

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things better for children and young people?

™ Reduce the number of children and young people who are looked after by the council.

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things better for children and young people?

™ Improve the quality of some weaker schools to help children and young people achieve better standards.

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things better for children and young people?

™ Help to improve the attendance of those children and young people who do not always attend school.

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things better for children and young people?

™ Help more young people to go on to full-time education, find a job or start some training that will help them to get a job in the future.

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things better for children and young people?

™ Make all areas of Salford a safer place to live and ensure that no one is called racist names or is bullied.

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things better for children and young people?

™ Improve the healthy lifestyles for all children and young people.

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things better for children and young people?

™ Improve the overall quality of the youth service in all parts of Salford.

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