Other · Local authority data pack
Setting
Summary
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- Postcode verified
EC2P 2EJ
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
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Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
Reads more warmly than most reports of this type.
How the report reads, start to finish
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Strengths
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- Very good promotion of healthy lifestyles, with clear impact on outcomes. Highly effective child and adolescent mental health service partnership, enabling good access to services. Excellent support for looked after children and children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. p.3
- Children and young people’s services have excellent capacity to improve further and are very well managed. p.3
- 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. p.1
- 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. p.1
- The council has continued to build on its outstanding contribution to outcomes identified in the joint area review report, published in December 2007, and which found no significant weaknesses in services. p.3
Concerns
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Next steps
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- The council’s analysis of its strengths and areas for development for this outcome area is consistent with the evidence. p.4
- All have personal education plans, contribute to regular reviews and their progress is carefully monitored by officers and elected members. p.4
- They are very well prepared for the next stage in their lives. An outstanding range of sporting and cultural activities and very good participation rates. p.4
- Almost all looked after children over the age of 15 have pathway plans. p.5
- All have personal advisers and are in suitable accommodation. Consistently high levels of achievement at Level 2 and Level 3 by age 19. The proportion of young people not in education, employment or training is exceptionally low. p.5
- The council’s capacity to improve its services for children and young people is outstanding and its management of these services is also outstanding. p.5
- The council has been very effective in maintaining high standards in almost all areas of its work and in bringing about further improvement in some. p.5
- Very good partnerships, collaborative working and strong links with neighbouring boroughs, local businesses and the voluntary sector have resulted in very good support for children and young people. p.5
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Teaching & assessment8
“ Some aspects of self-assessment lack rigour.” p.6
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 6
- Words of findings
- 1,455
- shorter than usual (typical 3558)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 34, typical 50
- Average sentence
- 21 words
- Next steps
- 8
- typical 5
- Hedged sentences
- 10%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Ms Jenny Goodall Director of Community and Children’s Services City of London Corporation PO Box 270 Guildhall London EC2P 2EJ
p.1
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
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
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 3 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 City of London Corporation delivers services for children and young people that are well above the minimum requirements for users. The council’s capacity to improve, including its management of services is outstanding. The council has continued to build on its outstanding contribution to outcomes identified in the joint area review report, published in December 2007, and which found no significant weaknesses in services. Health outcomes continue to be very strong and good progress has been made in raising standards in education. Children and young people have a wide range of opportunities to participate in decision-making and the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training is exceptionally low. Looked after children and children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities receive excellent support. Safeguarding arrangements are good, and the high priority given to early intervention has resulted in a low number of referrals to children’s
p.3
Overall effectiveness of children’s services Grade 4
social care services. However, there has been a reduction in the responsiveness of social care services, resulting in high re-referral rates and deterioration in timeliness of initial assessments.
p.3
Overall effectiveness of children’s services Grade 4
Children and young people’s services have excellent capacity to improve further and are very well managed. The council is ambitious for children and young people in the area and has a strong focus on promoting inclusion and tackling disadvantage. Priorities are clear and knowledge about performance is used to drive further improvement.
p.3
Being healthy Grade 4
The contribution of services to improving outcomes for children and young people in this aspect is outstanding. The council’s analysis of its strengths and areas for development for this outcome area is consistent with the evidence.
p.3
Major strengths
Very good promotion of healthy lifestyles, with clear impact on outcomes. Highly effective child and adolescent mental health service partnership, enabling good access to services. Excellent support for looked after children and children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
p.3
Staying safe Grade 3
The contribution of services to improving outcomes for children and young people in this aspect is good. The council’s analysis of its strengths and areas for development in this outcome area underestimates some weaknesses. The table below sets out the evidence for the grade awarded.
p.4
Major strengths
Effective early intervention and prevention, resulting in low numbers of referrals to children’s social care services. Effective pro-active work to reduce bullying and raise awareness of domestic violence issues. Sustained high performance in supporting looked after children.
p.4
Important weaknesses and areas for development
A reduction in the responsiveness of social care services, resulting in high re- referral rates and deterioration in timeliness of initial assessments. The common assessment framework has not yet been fully implemented.
p.4
Enjoying and achieving Grade 4
The contribution of services to improving outcomes for children and young people in this aspect is outstanding. The council’s analysis of its strengths and areas for development for this outcome area is consistent with the evidence.
p.4
Major strengths
Standards are rising with particularly good gains in writing in Key Stage 1 and mathematics in Key Stage 2. Excellent support for looked after children and those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. All have personal education plans, contribute to regular reviews and their progress is carefully monitored by officers and elected members. They are very well prepared for the next stage in their lives. An outstanding range of sporting and cultural activities and very good participation rates.
p.4
Important weaknesses and areas for development
The contribution of services to improving outcomes for children and young people in this aspect is outstanding. The council’s analysis of its strengths and areas for development for this outcome area is consistent with the evidence.
p.4
Major strengths
Excellent opportunities for young people to influence decision making. The proportion of looked after children who contribute to their statutory reviews is consistently very high. High levels of engagement with disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people which prevent offending and anti-social behaviour and substance misuse.
p.5
Achieving economic well-being Grade 4
The contribution of services to improving outcomes for children and young people in this aspect is outstanding. The council’s analysis of its strengths and areas for development for this outcome area is consistent with the evidence.
p.5
Major strengths
Children and young people who are looked after and those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are supported very well. Almost all looked after children over the age of 15 have pathway plans. All have personal advisers and are in suitable accommodation. Consistently high levels of achievement at Level 2 and Level 3 by age 19. The proportion of young people not in education, employment or training is exceptionally low.
p.5
children’s services Grade 4
The council’s capacity to improve its services for children and young people is outstanding and its management of these services is also outstanding. The council has been very effective in maintaining high standards in almost all areas of its work and in bringing about further improvement in some. Very good partnerships, collaborative working and strong links with neighbouring boroughs, local businesses and the voluntary sector have resulted in very good support for children and young people. Good use of analysis, the sharing of information and excellent levels of consultation with young people and their communities have enabled the council to be proactive and to provide early intervention and support. The council has a strong commitment to inclusion so that looked after children and vulnerable and disadvantaged young people are listened to and their views fully taken into account. This high level of engagement enables young people to successfully influence
p.5
children’s services Grade 4
decisions that affect their lives and council decisions and results in very good outcomes. A real commitment to ensuring the economic well-being of young people has resulted in a very high proportion of young people being in education, employment or training.
p.6
children’s services Grade 4
While the council’s self-assessment is generally accurate there is insufficient evidence of impact on some outcomes. For example, the impact of case file audits on improving practice is unclear. The council benefits from very good leadership and management at all levels and excellent financial arrangements and use of resources. Performance management is strong. While almost all of the council’s actions are effective and timely it has not yet completed the implementation of the common assessment framework.
p.6
Major strengths
Ambitious and effective leadership at all levels. Action planning which is clearly based on an analysis of needs and strong partnerships. Strong commitment to inclusion.
p.6
Important weaknesses and areas for development
Some aspects of self-assessment lack rigour. For example, there is insufficient evidence of the impact of some actions.
p.6
Important weaknesses and areas for development
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.
p.6
Important weaknesses and areas for development
We are grateful for the information you provided to support this process and for the time given by you and your colleagues during the assessment.
p.6
Important weaknesses and areas for development
Juliet Winstanley Divisional Manager, Local Services Inspection
p.6
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