Setting

Mr Kim Derry-Bromley Interim Executive Director for Children and Young People's Services London Borough of Newham Broadway House 322 High Street Stratford Newham London E15 1AJ

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Children’s services annual rating

Ofsted guidance published in May 2009 explained that the annual rating would derive from a new performance profile of the quality of services and outcomes for children and young people in each local area. This profile includes findings from across Ofsted’s inspection and regulation of services and settings for which the council has strategic or operational responsibilities, either alone or in partnership with others, together with data from the relevant Every Child Matters indicators in the new National Indicator Set (NIS).

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Children’s services annual rating

In considering the evidence in the profile to determine the children’s services rating for 2009 it has become clear that the continuing gaps in the data are significant, particularly those relating to aspects of social care and services for Looked After Children. Ofsted has decided therefore to use 2009 as a transitional year easing into the full application of the new system in 2010. As a consequence, although the performance profile remains central to Ofsted’s rating, we have interpreted the performance bands with flexibility and exercised professional judgement with caution.

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Children’s services annual rating

The annual rating derives from a four point scale:

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Children’s services annual rating

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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Children’s services annual rating

Within each level there will be differing standards of provision. For example, a rating of ‘performs excellently’ does not mean all aspects of provision are perfect. Similarly, a rating of ‘performs poorly’ does not mean there are no adequate or even good aspects. Aviation House 125 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 40 40 40 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 020-7421-6716 Direct F 020-7421-5715 juliet.winstanley@ofsted.gov.uk

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Children’s services in London of Borough of Newham perform well.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

A higher than average proportion of secondary schools, school sixth forms and special schools are good or outstanding. All except one of the borough’s 15 secondary schools are at least good, with six that are outstanding; one is inadequate. Post-16 provision in the borough is outstanding in a third of school sixth forms and the further education college, and good in the sixth form college. The proportion of good primary schools is broadly in line with similar areas, but below the national average. However, too few childcare settings and childminders are good compared to that found nationally. Childminders and childcare provision do not do as well as similar areas in all five Every Child Matters outcomes areas.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Specialist provision and services for children and young people whose circumstances make them more vulnerable are variable in quality. Both special schools in the borough are good, as is one of the two pupil referral units; the other one is adequate. The local authority’s fostering agency and its private fostering arrangements are good, but its adoption agency, children’s home and residential family centre are adequate.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Performance against a large majority of indicators, including staying safe and enjoying and achieving, is in line with similar areas and the national figure. The difference in the performance of children and young people from lower income families is much smaller than seen in similar areas and nationally. Pupils who are identified as having special educational needs do not achieve as well as those in similar areas when they are aged 11. When they are aged 16 the difference in their achievement and that of their peers is smaller than in similar areas and much smaller than the national average. The achievement of pupils of white heritage in Newham is well below that in similar authorities and nationally, both when they are aged 11 and 16.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

The children’s services rating is provided for the purpose of section 138 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. The rating of local authority children’s services will contribute significantly to the managing performance theme of each local authority’s Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) organisational assessment and therefore to the score for each local authority overall.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Juliet Winstanley Divisional Manager, CAA

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