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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Annual children’s services assessment

Ofsted guidance published in April 2011 explains that the annual assessment of children’s services is derived from the performance profile of the quality of services for children and young people in each local area. This performance profile includes findings from across Ofsted’s inspection and regulation of services and settings for which the local authority has strategic or operational responsibilities, either alone or in partnership with others, together with other published data.

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Annual children’s services assessment

In reaching the assessment of children’s services, Ofsted has taken account of inspection outcomes including the arrangements for making sure children are safe and stay safe and performance against similar authorities and/or national measures. More weight has been given to the outcomes of Ofsted’s inspections and regulatory visits (Blocks A and B in the performance profile).

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Annual children’s services assessment

The annual assessment derives from a four point scale:

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Annual children’s services assessment

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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Annual children’s services assessment

Within each level there will be differing standards of provision. For example, an assessment of ‘performs excellently’ does not mean all aspects of provision are perfect. Similarly, an assessment of ‘performs poorly’ does not mean there are no adequate or even good aspects. As in 2010, while the performance profile remains central to Ofsted’s assessment, meeting or not meeting the minimum requirements alone does not define the grade. The assessment has involved the application of inspector judgement. Aviation House 125 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 0300 123 1231 Textphone 0161 618 8524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 020 7421 6666 Direct F 020 7421 5633 Juliet.Winstanley@ofsted.gov.uk

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Children’s services assessment Performs well (3)

Children’s services in the London Borough of Ealing perform well. This performance has been sustained from 2010 to 2011. The large majority of services, settings and institutions inspected by Ofsted are good or outstanding and few are inadequate. The large majority are also good at helping children and young people to stay safe and most are good at supporting them to learn. The local authority shows very strong performance against published indicators. Average educational standards continue to improve and gaps for key vulnerable groups are closing well. Areas of strength remain largely the same as last year and progress has been made in the key areas for further development. As found elsewhere, changes to schools are taking place and more have become academies. Previous inspection judgements for these schools have been taken into account in the assessment.

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Children’s services assessment Performs well (3)

In 2010, an unannounced inspection of contact, referral and assessment arrangements for children in need and children who may be in need of protection found a number of key strengths, some areas for development and no areas for priority action. A full inspection of services for safeguarding and services for looked after children carried out in 2011 judged the overall effectiveness of both areas as good, and the local authority’s capacity for improvement as outstanding. This inspection also identified swift and effective action to address areas for development from the unannounced inspection.

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Strengths

ƒ For early years and childcare, three children’s centres are judged good or outstanding and the other is satisfactory, showing better provision than found elsewhere. ƒ Most provision for early years education in nursery and primary schools is good or outstanding and shows improvement from last year, but one primary school remains inadequate in this area. Average achievement at the age of five is improving steadily and the gap for children from low- income families is closing well against similar areas and nationally. ƒ Eleven-year-olds make increasingly good progress from the age of seven and average standards at the age of 11 show steady improvement over time, including for looked after children. Provisional results for 2011 show a very small drop on the previous year. ƒ Most secondary schools are good or outstanding, as are standards of behaviour, and poor attendance by some young people is reducing

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Strengths

quickly. At the age of 16, average standards in the proportion of young people achieving five or more A* to C grades at GCSE, including English and mathematics, continue to rise. Young people from low-income families achieve very well and the gap with their peers is closing. Those with special educational needs also do very well and the gap with their peers closed in 2010, addressing a key area for development. For minority ethnic groups, attainment is average or above and gaps have closed well. Above average numbers of looked after young people gain higher grade GCSEs and their results are improving more quickly than for their peers elsewhere. ƒ The majority of provision for learning after the age of 16 is good or better and shows improvement. Six sixth forms in secondary schools are now good or outstanding, addressing an area for improvement, but three are only satisfactory, as is the college of further education. More young people

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Strengths

continue in learning than nationally. By the age of 19, average and increasing numbers gain higher level and other qualifications. Well above average numbers of young people from low-income families also gain these qualifications and the gaps with their peers have closed well. The large majority of care leavers are in education, employment or training and the local authority has received praise from Government for its work in supporting high numbers to go to university. ƒ As last year, most special schools and pupil referral units are good or outstanding. ƒ For looked after children, all arrangements for adoption and fostering are good or outstanding. Three children’s homes remain good and the fourth is satisfactory. The large majority of children’s homes that are commissioned by the local authority are judged good or better.

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Areas for further improvement

ƒ While the majority of provision for early years and childcare is good or better, too many childminders and too much childcare is only satisfactory so performance is below that found elsewhere. ƒ Although the majority of primary schools are good or outstanding and show improvement since last year, and one good school has become an academy, over one third remains only satisfactory so performance is below that found elsewhere.

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Areas for further improvement

This children’s services assessment is provided in accordance with section 138 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.

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Areas for further improvement

Juliet Winstanley Divisional Manager, Children’s Services Assessment

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