Joint area review

Joint area review of Report for children and young people

p.1

Report for children and young people about the services they receive in the London Borough of Greenwich

p.1

• 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 London Borough of Greenwich children and young people’s report 2

p.1

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.

p.2

What did the inspectors do?

Eight inspectors visited Greenwich 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:

p.2

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 Greenwich Young People’s Council ™ heard from the council and other agencies what it thinks about the services it provides for children ™ read a lot of reports ™ visited services in the West Greenwich neighbourhood to see things for themselves.

p.2

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.

p.2

How well are children and young people doing in Greenwich?

™ Most children and young people are doing better than they have done in the past. They are safer and healthier. ™ Children and young people are doing better at school but they are still not doing as well as children in other parts of England. ™ Schools are working hard to help children who arrive in Greenwich from other countries and who do not have English as their first language. ™ More children are being immunised against diseases and schools are encouraging children to have healthy lifestyles. ™ Too many young people aged 15-17 are getting pregnant. London Borough of Greenwich children and young people’s report 3

p.2

How well are children and young people doing in Greenwich?

™ Children with mental health problems receive good help to get better, and children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities also get good help. ™ Most children who are in council care live with families and are beginning to return home more quickly. Councillors in Greenwich are very keen to make sure that they do well. ™ Lots of children and young people get involved in making decisions about how Greenwich could be a better place and they have good ideas about how this could be taken even further. ™ A lot of work is going on to make sure that young people are prepared for work or college.

p.3

your area?

™ Most feel safe living in Greenwich although there are some groups of young people and a few gangs in some local communities that make them uncomfortable. ™ Most children say that they enjoy school. ™ Those who are involved with the work of the council say that they are listened to and their suggestions are acted upon. ™ Young people are excited about the Olympics and see them as a chance to really improve the area and to create jobs and leisure activities. ™ Although the youth service is good, they want some more to do in the week day evenings. ™ Good support and advice is available to young people who are leaving care. ™ Although young people are given good help to find accommodation, young people are worried about the cost and whether they will be able to carry on living in the area.

p.3

in my area?

™ The adults working with children work hard to understand what children and young people need and what will make their lives better. ™ The council is determined to make sure that as Greenwich is regenerated, children and young people will have opportunities for jobs and a better quality of life. London Borough of Greenwich children and young people’s report 4

p.3

in my area?

™ There are lots of people in Greenwich who have worked well with each other to keep children safe and to make sure that families who need help receive it. ™ Young people are encouraged to have healthy lives. ™ Children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are really helped to have their say about what they need to improve their chances in life. ™ Schools are improving and they and the college are helping young people prepare for working life. ™ Good progress is being made to reduce the chances of children and young people becoming involved in anti-social behaviour and crime. ™ Young people can enjoy some good youth service activities.

p.4

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

™ Some children and young people are not improving enough in school and college. ™ Too many young people are absent from school without a good reason. ™ Too many children and their families who need help from social care services do not have their needs assessed soon enough. ™ Too many young people are living in council care. ™ Too many young people become pregnant at young ages.

p.4