Setting

Mr Gareth Williams Director of Children and Young People's Service Leicestershire County Council Room 115, County Hall Glenfield Leicestershire LE3 8RF

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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 002-7421-5715 juliet.winstanley@ofsted.gov.uk

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Children’s services in Leicestershire County Council perform well.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

The proportion of good or outstanding secondary schools, sixth forms and special schools is above the national average, with very little provision across children’s services and settings that is judged inadequate. However, too much nursery and primary school provision remains only satisfactory. Childminder and childcare settings are satisfactory overall with a higher proportion of good provision reported in childcare settings than childminders. Provision for those whose circumstances make them vulnerable is good in all special schools but only adequate in the local authority’s pupil referral unit. Performance in the local authority’s fostering agency is adequate. Although two of the three children’s homes are good the third is judged to be unsatisfactory. A recent serious case review has been completed adequately.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Performance against a very large majority of national indicators, including those for staying safe and enjoying and achieving, is in line with similar areas and national figures, with strengths in the timeliness of social care child protection processes and educational attainment at all key stages. There is good performance in relation to young offenders, with lower than average first-time offending rates. Outcomes for those whose circumstances make them vulnerable are usually good and the difference in their performance and others of the same age is improving, with the gap in academic achievement, especially at Level 2 qualifications at the age of 19, narrower than similar areas and that seen nationally. However, a smaller than average proportion of this group go on to higher education.

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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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