Setting

Mrs Anne Marie Carrie Executive Director of Family and Children’s Services Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Family and Children’s Services Town Hall Hornton Street London W8 7NX

p.1

and Chelsea 2008

This letter summarises the findings of the 2008 annual performance assessment (APA) for your council. The evaluations and judgements in the letter draw on a range of data and information which covers the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. As you know, the APA is not based on an inspection of your services and, therefore, can only provide a snapshot based on the evidence considered. As such, I am grateful to you for assuring the quality of the data provided.

p.1

and Chelsea 2008

Performance is judged on a four point scale as detailed in the handbook. I should emphasise that the grades awarded are based on an overall ‘best fit’ model. For instance, an outstanding judgement of Grade 4 reflects that overall most aspects, but not necessarily all, of the services in the area are working very well. We know that one of the features of outstanding provision is the drive for greater improvement and no council would suggest, and nor would Ofsted, that a judgement of outstanding indicates that everything is perfect. Similarly within a judgement of inadequate overall, Grade 1, there could be some aspects of the overall service that are adequate or even good. Judgements are made in a rounded way, balancing all of the evidence and giving due consideration to outcomes, local and national contexts, priorities and decision-making. Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 40 40 40 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

and Chelsea 2008

www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 0117 945 6293 Direct F 0117 945 6554 South_apa@ofsted.gov.uk The following table sets out the grades awarded for performance in 2008.

p.1

Assessment judgement area APA grade

Overall effectiveness of children’s services 4 Being healthy 4 Staying safe 4 Enjoying and achieving 4 Making a positive contribution 4 Achieving economic well-being 4 Capacity to improve, including the management of services for children and young people

p.2

Assessment judgement area APA grade

Inspectors make judgements based on the following scale 4: outstanding/excellent; 3: good; 2: adequate; 1: inadequate

p.2

Overall effectiveness of children’s services Grade 4

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea makes an outstanding contribution to improving outcomes for children and young people and it consistently delivers services that are well above minimum requirements. It has sustained and, in some instances, improved on historical areas of excellence. Since the 2007 APA, the council has made very good progress in supporting children and young people to achieve economic well-being. As a result, in this area, as in all others, outcomes are outstanding overall. Underpinning this continued pattern of success are strong, stable and innovative leadership, robust performance management systems and highly effective partnership arrangements. The council has a very secure understanding of its strengths and areas for development and this is well informed by exceptional systems for hearing and responding to the views of parents, carers and their children. Children and young people participate actively in decision making

p.3

Overall effectiveness of children’s services Grade 4

and this is reflected, for example, in the impressive work of the Youth and Children’s Forums. They thrive in this culturally and ethnically diverse community. Excellent progress is being made in schools to support healthy living. Child and adolescent mental health services provide a comprehensive and well targeted range of support to meet the mental health needs of children and young people. Robust safeguarding arrangements are in place`. There is excellent provision to meet the needs of children with disabilities and their families. The council has made very good progress in narrowing the gap between the achievements of vulnerable young people and their peers. This is reflected, for instance, in the reduction of young people not in education, employment or training, particularly those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Educational outcomes continue to be excellent. In 2007, pupils achieved

p.3

Overall effectiveness of children’s services Grade 4

some of the best results in England at the end of all Key Stages and the rate of improvement continues to be faster than nationally. A-level results are exceptionally high and well above average.

p.3

Overall effectiveness of children’s services Grade 4

Outcomes for children and young people are at the heart of the council’s priorities. The council is rigorous in the appraisal of its work and aligns its resources effectively to meet diverse needs and address gaps in provision. The council’s record of excellence and sustained improvement over time demonstrate that its capacity to improve is outstanding. The council’s review of its CYPP is consistent with the evidence. There are no additional recommendations to make as a result of this APA.

p.3

Overall effectiveness of children’s services Grade 4

The children's services grade is the performance rating for the purpose of section 138 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. It will also provide the score for the children and young people service block in the comprehensive performance assessment to be published by the Audit Commission. We are grateful for the information you provided as part of this process and for the time given by you and your colleagues in preparing for the assessment.

p.3

Overall effectiveness of children’s services Grade 4

Juliet Winstanley Divisional Manager Local Services Inspection

p.4

Being healthy

ƒ Rates of breast-feeding are significantly above local and national comparators. ƒ Exceptionally high rates of immunisation. ƒ Very high proportion of schools achieving the National Healthy School Status. ƒ Excellent range of health provision to meet the needs of children with disabilities.

p.5

Being healthy

ƒ Slow progress in meeting the National Health Service screening target for sexually transmitted diseases.

p.5

Staying safe

ƒ The thoroughness and timeliness of reviews for children with child protection plans. ƒ Excellent preventative support in reducing numbers of children and young people entering care. ƒ Significant reduction in violent youth crime and knife crime.

p.5

Enjoying and achieving

ƒ Exceptionally high standards of achievement at the end of Key Stages 2, 3 and 4, that are well above the national average and similar councils. ƒ Very good progress for those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities ƒ Significant increase in the opportunities for children with disabilities to access play and recreational activities.

p.5

Enjoying and achieving

ƒ Increase in the rate of permanent exclusion from secondary schools.

p.5

Making a positive contribution

ƒ Exceptionally strong participation by children and young people in decision making. ƒ Outstanding support to enable children and young people with disabilities to contribute to improvements in the local area. ƒ Very good involvement of children and young people in youth related activities. ƒ The proportion of young people involved in first time offending is consistently below average and one of the lowest rates nationally.

p.5

Making a positive contribution

ƒ Lower than average percentage of looked after children contributing to their reviews.

p.5

Achieving economic well-being

ƒ Outstanding A-level achievement. ƒ Excellent advice, guidance and support are provided for young people, with a particular focus on those who may be more vulnerable. ƒ Very good progress in commissioning services to support the economic well- being of young people. ƒ Trend of improvement in increasing the proportion of young people in education, employment or training.

p.6

Achieving economic well-being

ƒ The percentage of young people achieving level 2 by age 19.

p.6

management of children’s services

ƒ Highly effective joint working with the primary care trust. ƒ Excellent use of resources is having a sustained impact on improving outcomes. ƒ Outstanding capacity to improve based on sustained track record of excellence coupled with exceptional performance management.

p.6