Setting

Mr Mark Wyatt Director of Children's Services Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council Westox House 1 Trinity Road Dudley West Midlands DY1 1JQ

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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 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council perform well.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

The overall effectiveness of the majority of inspected and regulated services and settings in Dudley is good or better. Children receive a strong start in care and education through good early years provision which compares favourably with similar areas and that found nationally. However, their progress is hindered through uneven primary school provision where, despite some improvement, under half of primary schools are judged to be good or better in inspection. By secondary education this provision has improved, with two thirds of schools judged good or better; a trend that is sustained in the sixth form college and further education settings. Judgements for staying safe and enjoying and achieving are in line with or above similar areas and that found nationally across almost all inspected and regulated services.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

The quality of provision for children and young people whose circumstances make them vulnerable is mixed, with some examples of high quality performance in education and care settings. All but one of the seven special schools and two of the four pupil referral units are good or better, with the remainder being satisfactory. Three of the authority’s five children’s homes were judged to be outstanding and two good at their most recent inspection. The local authority adoption service was judged to be good. However, the local authority fostering service is adequate and the private fostering arrangements inadequate.

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Children’s services rating Performs well (3)

Performance against the large majority of national indicators, including those for staying safe and enjoying and achieving, is comparable with that in similar areas and performance nationally. The gap in achievement between children and young people whose circumstances make them vulnerable and their peers is variable and shows no consistent trend.

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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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