Setting

Mr David Archibald Executive Director of Children and Adults London Borough of Ealing 5/NE/2 Perceval House 14–16 Uxbridge Road Ealing London W5 2HL

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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 020-7421-5715 juliet.winstanley@ofsted.gov.uk

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Children’s services in the London Borough of Ealing perform well.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

The overall effectiveness of the large majority of inspected services and settings is good or better. Provision is particularly strong in secondary schools where a much higher proportion than in similar areas and nationally is judged to be good or outstanding. Achievement at Key Stage 4 is in line with similar areas and that found nationally and is improving. No secondary schools fall short of the national floor target. The general further education and tertiary provider is inadequate, although making a satisfactory contribution to each of the five Every Child Matters outcomes. Provision overall contributes to: high numbers of young people participating in education, employment or training after the age of 16; qualifications at level 2 that are in line with similar area and national averages and improving; and qualifications at level 3 that are well above the national average, in line with similar areas and also

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

improving. The majority of primary schools are good or better and achievement at Key Stage 2 is in line with similar area and national averages. Pupils from all minority ethnic groups achieve in line with their peers at Key Stages 2 and 4. Provision for children and young people whose circumstances make them vulnerable shows performance above similar areas and that seen nationally for the two good pupil referral units. Although four special schools are judged to be good or better, two are only satisfactory so show performance below similar areas and the national picture overall. For children in need, the timeliness of initial and core assessments show significant improvement. Very high numbers of young offenders are in suitable education, employment or training.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

For young children, achievement in the Early Years Foundation Stage is in line with similar authorities and achievement nationally. Childcare settings and childminders show performance below similar areas and that found nationally as too many are only satisfactory. This is due in part to only adequate provision for being healthy and staying safe. The large majority of nurseries are good or better but the small minority that are only satisfactory results in performance that is below that in similar areas and nationally. Provision for looked after children is particularly strong. All provision is good or outstanding. Both children’s homes are good, as is the adoption agency and private fostering arrangements. The fostering agency is outstanding. Placement stability for adopted children is good and placements for looked after children are very stable and of good length. Good numbers of care leavers are in

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

employment, education or training and all are in suitable accommodation.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Performance against the very large majority of national indicators, including those for staying safe and enjoying and achieving, is at least in line with similar areas and broadly in line with or better than the national figure, although there are relative weaknesses in four of the five Every Child Matters outcomes. The difference in the performance of children and young people whose circumstances make them vulnerable and others of the same age is mostly in line with the national figure and with similar areas. Gaps are closing, most noticeably for children eligible for free school meals at Key Stage 2 and in the attainment of level 2 and 3 qualifications by the age of 19.

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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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