Joint area review

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

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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 London Borough of Bromley 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?

Eight inspectors visited Bromley between 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:

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What did the inspectors do?

™ talked and 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 Council ™ heard from the council and other agencies about services for children ™ read a lot of reports ™ visited services used by children and young people 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 children 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 Bromley?

™ Most are healthy and safe from harm. ™ Most enjoy school and achieve well, ™ Most are not involved enough in decisions about the services they use or the area in which they live. ™ Very few are not in education, employment or training after the age of 16 and a large number go on to higher education. Most are prepared well for working life. ™ Some vulnerable children and young people, for example those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and those who offend, are not getting the support they need. London Borough of Bromley children and young people’s report 3

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your area?

™ Most receive good advice and support about their health. ™ Some do not feel safe in some parts of Bromley because they are frightened by gangs and bullies. ™ Most enjoy school and think they are doing well. ™ Not all know about what leisure facilities are available for them to use. Others find these expensive and hard to get to. ™ They value the support they receive from the Connexions service but some are not aware of other education services available to them. ™ Some say they have some influence on how their school is run. They do not think they have as much say about the area where they live. ™ Those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities using the Hollybank short break unit say provision is good. ™ Not all those who are looked after by the council feel involved in plans for their care.

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in my area?

™ Many clearly benefit from services. ™ Provision in schools for promoting health, and some provision for mental health. ™ Action to stop bullying and promote road safety. ™ Education services and the leadership of schools. ™ Action to ensure high standards and provision in schools and for young children learning in other places. This has helped some children and young people achieve very well indeed. Most of those with learning difficulties and or disabilities make good progress in schools. ™ Some services are outstanding in the help and support they provide in times of difficulties, including preventing children and young people from becoming looked after. ™ Plans to make sure there is better involvement of all children and young people in decisions made about services for them. ™ Partnerships to ensure young people remain in education, training or employment after the age of 16. ™ The Bromley Children project and outstanding provision for pre-school

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in my area?

children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and their families. ™ Progress in improving the youth service. London Borough of Bromley children and young people’s report 4

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

™ Some vulnerable children and young people most in need of support do not get enough help. ™ Some important decisions about services for those most in need have not yet been taken. ™ Too many children and young people who are looked after by the council are placed outside of Bromley and few leave care with a good qualification. ™ High levels of absence authorised by schools. ™ Participation in education, training or employment after the age of 16 by some vulnerable groups. ™ Not enough challenge to achieve well in activities provided by the youth service. ™ Not all services work together to reduce the gap between those that are healthy and those that are less healthy, including doctors in local areas. ™ Low rates of immunisation will not prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases such as mumps, measles or rubella. ™ Very serious weaknesses in the youth offending service means that young people who offend do not get the support they need. There is

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

not enough help to deter those at risk of offending. ™ The relatively low rate of reporting of racist incidents in schools. ™ Gaps in services and a lack of clear planning for those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. ™ Procedures for checking everyone who works with children and young people. ™ Not enough accommodation for young adults who want to live on their own. ™ The availability and affordability of childcare provision in some parts of Bromley.

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