Joint area review

Joint area review of Report for children and young people Hounslow

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

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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 Hounslow 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 Hounslow in December 2005 and January 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/listened to a number of children and young people ™ talked with adults working with children and young people (like social workers, teachers, youth workers, nurses, doctors, police officers and councillors) ™ spoke to parents and other people caring for children ™ met with school councils’ representatives and members of the Youth Parliament ™ heard from the council and other agencies what it thinks about the services it provides for children ™ read a lot of reports; and ™ visited the neighbourhoods of Brentford and Bedfont 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 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 Hounslow?

™ Overall children and young people are achieving well and those who are most at risk are well protected. ™ Most children and young people are healthy and safe, but young men who attend Feltham Young Offenders Institute are not as healthy as they should be . ™ There are some good projects to help children and young people be more healthy. ™ Many children and young people behave responsibly and many make a very good contribution to their schools and to their local communities Hounslow children and young people’s report 3

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How well are children and young people doing in Hounslow?

™ Most children and young people do as well in school and college as those in other parts of the country. While they do better now than they used to, there is still room for further improvement. ™ Most who are in the care of the council do well but many still leave school without good GCSE results. ™ Most children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make satisfactory progress.

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your area?

™ They feel generally healthy. ™ They feel safe in school, and in the area where they live. ™ They generally enjoy school and feel that they do well. ™ Many of them have the chance to have their say about how your school is run and the facilities that it provides for you. ™ While some have been able to use their views to make a difference beyond their school, this is not yet the case for all children and young people. ™ They usually receive good advice about their choice of career and the opportunities open to them when they leave school.

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in my area?

™ There is a good range of health services which meet their needs. ™ The youth service, youth counselling service and youth offending service work well with other services to support children and young people in Hounslow. ™ Children and young people are well protected because agencies work well together and are quick to respond when there are problems. ™ There are good services to support children and young people and their families when things go wrong and at times of crisis. ™ Children and young people in the care of the council take an active role in supporting each other and are consulted about the quality of the care that they receive. ™ Most schools provide a good education for their pupils and they are increasingly welcoming pupils with learning and physical difficulties. ™ The work with children and young people who offend is developing and is beginning to make a difference. Hounslow children and young people’s report 4

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in my area?

™ Young people are well prepared for working life and usually receive good guidance about the choices and pathways open to them. ™ The large majority of young people continue into education , training or employment after the age of 16.

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

™ Not all groups of children and young people are consulted sufficiently about the services provided for them, particularly children and young people who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities. ™ Too many pupils are permanently excluded from secondary schools and not all then receive the education that they need. ™ Young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities often do not have the same range of options after the age of 16. ™ Too many children and young people in the care of the council are placed outside Hounslow.

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