Setting

Mr Andrew Fraser Director of Education, Children's Services London Borough of Enfield PO Box 56, Civic Centre Silver Street Enfield London EN1 3XQ

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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 Enfield perform well. This good performance has been maintained since 2010. The large majority of services, settings and institutions are good or better overall and help children to enjoy their learning and achieve well. The very large majority are good or better at helping them to stay safe. There has been some progress regarding the areas for further development identified in last year’s assessment as more registered childminders and day-care providers are good or better than last year. Obesity rates show a small reduction, although they remain higher than in similar areas and nationally. A number of secondary schools in the borough have become academies, the majority of which were judged satisfactory at their last inspection and these schools have been taken into account in this assessment.

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Children’s services assessment Performs well (3)

In May 2010 the announced inspection of safeguarding and services for looked after children judged both services as good, with good capacity for further improvement. The March 2011 unannounced inspection of children’s social care contact, referral and assessment arrangements identified two areas of strength, areas of practice that meet requirements and four areas for development. There were no areas requiring priority action.

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Strengths

ƒ The large majority of secondary schools and academies are good or better. The proportion of 16-year-olds gaining five good GCSEs including English and mathematics improved in 2010 and performance was in line with similar areas and the national average. Provisional 2011 data show further good improvement this year. ƒ There are currently no inadequate schools in the area. Schools that are causing concern receive well-targeted and effective support to improve from the local authority. ƒ Two thirds of secondary sixth forms are good or better and the remainder are satisfactory. The proportion of young people gaining level 2 and level 3 qualifications by age 19 is improving year on year and broadly in line with similar areas and the national average. The attainment of those from low-income families at age 19 is also improving and is above the national average. ƒ Four of the six special schools are now outstanding, which is one more

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Strengths

than last year; one is good and the other satisfactory. Three of the four special school sixth forms are also at least good. The latest inspection of a school for those with complex needs, mainly those with moderate learning difficulties or severe learning difficulties, found overall effectiveness to be outstanding with children and young people achieving exceptionally well. ƒ The three pupil referral units are all good, including the recently inspected behaviour support service that provides for children with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties who have been permanently excluded, or are at risk of exclusion, from mainstream school. A major part of this latter service is high quality outreach work that supports children in primary schools very well and the service is held in high regard by the schools that it works with. ƒ The local authority’s fostering and adoption agencies are both good, as

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Strengths

they were last year. The local authority has no children’s homes of its own. The quality of the very large majority of children’s homes it uses is good or better, although one home is currently inadequate.

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Areas for further improvement

ƒ The overall effectiveness of registered early years and childcare provision in the borough is improving, but the proportion of good or better settings is lower than found in similar areas and nationally. Only one children’s centre has been inspected so far and this is satisfactory. ƒ Although no primary schools are currently inadequate, a higher proportion than last year, over one third, are only satisfactory. The borough has a lower proportion of good or better primary schools than is average in similar areas and nationally. ƒ Educational outcomes are broadly in line with those found nationally at ages five, 16 and by age 19. Not enough children took the tests for 11- year-olds last year to accurately assess performance, but provisional 2011 data show improvement since 2009. However, when compared to similar areas, performance against some indicators is below average. For example, despite continuous improvement since 2007, both the numbers

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Areas for further improvement

of five-year-olds achieving a good level of development and performance in Science GCSEs at age 16 are below the average in similar areas.

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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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