Joint area review

Joint area review of Report for children and young people

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Report for children and young people about the services they receive in 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 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, to find out what they had to say.

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What did the inspectors do?

Nine inspectors visited Lincolnshire in November and December 2006 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 and listened to a number of children and young people they met at youth clubs and youth activities in different parts of the county ™ met some children and young people in Boston and heard from them about what life was like there. Visited some schools, colleges and a Sure Start children’s centre in Boston, and also met with groups of young people from across the county ™ talked with adults working with children and young people (like teachers, youth workers, social workers, nurses, health visitors, doctors, and police officers) ™ spoke to parents and other people caring for children ™ met with school councils’ representatives and representatives from the Youth Cabinet ™ heard from the council and other agencies what it thinks about the services it provides for children ™ read a lot of reports ™ visited services used by children 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 Lincolnshire?

™ They are generally healthy. ™ Most appear safe. ™ They achieve well in school. ™ Most enjoy school and many take part in sports, arts and music. ™ Many get involved in school councils and youth forums, giving their views about what should happen. Lincolnshire children and young people’s report 3

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How well are children and young people doing in Lincolnshire?

™ Most young people over 16, including those with learning difficulties or disabilities, are in education, training or employment.

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your area?

™ Most feel quite or very healthy. ™ Most feel safe and happy at school and in their local area. ™ Most find it quite easy or very easy to find things to do in their local area ™ Most find it quite easy or very easy to get information and advice when they need it. ™ Many get involved in activities in their schools and local areas. ™ The majority think they make some difference to the way things are run in their school but less so in their local area.

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in my area?

™ Services for children and young people are satisfactory overall. The council and all the other organizations care about what happens to children and young people. They are working hard to improve services. Inspectors felt that all services will continue to get even better. ™ Most young people receive adequate advice and support to help them get healthy and stay healthy. ™ All children and young people who might be at risk of serious abuse or neglect have social workers to support them and to protect them. ™ Children living with foster carers or in children’s homes are well cared for. ™ Pupils get good results at school. ™ Pupils’ behaviour at school is good. ™ There is good support at school and in many local areas through youth provision, Connexions and children’s centres to help children and young people with problems. ™ Most children have good access to play and leisure. ™ Children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities

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in my area?

are well supported in schools and colleges. ™ There are good opportunities and support for young people to stay on in education and training or to get jobs when they leave school. ™ There are lots of activities to help young people behave better and avoid getting involved in crime. Lincolnshire children and young people’s report 4

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in my area?

™ Most young people who leave care are well supported.

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

™ Children and young people in some areas do not get enough help in keeping healthy and have difficulty and delays in getting treatment as there are not enough health workers such as school nurses, dentists, and community nurses. ™ Families who need extra help to look after their children and keep them safe sometimes have to wait too long for this support. ™ Children and young people and their families from different backgrounds, cultures or other countries do not get enough support and help to make sure they get the services they need. ™ Not all children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities get the support they need at home, or from health services, especially as they get older. ™ The views of children and young people do not have enough effect on how services are run, or on what happens. ™ Too many children and young people get excluded from primary schools and special schools.

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