Official accolade for Southend Children’s Services

 

 

This result - the second highest it is possible to achieve - has been maintained for the third year running and services have also further improved.  

Inspectors reported: "The large majority of services, settings and institutions inspected by Ofsted are good or better.

"Most providers help children and young people to stay safe and enjoy learning."  

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, Councillor Mark Flewitt said: "This is a tremendous outcome.

"Everyone involved in Children's Services deserves to be congratulated for their continuing hard work.

"It is especially commendable to have managed not just to keep up last year's high standards, but to build on these too.

"We made great efforts to attend to areas highlighted for development last year, and will continue to target any other areas identified for improvement.

"Now we want to do our best to aim for the next rating up - the highest possible."  

In April Ofsted made its annual unannounced inspection of contact, referral and assessment arrangements for children in need, and children who may be in need of protection.  

Following this visit, Inspectors reported: "Strengths include the ready access social workers have to managers and experienced social work staff for case discussion, advice and direction.

"This is highly valued by staff and leads to good morale and low staff turnover, enabling consistency of provision to children and young people.  

Ofsted Inspectors noted a wide range of strengths in Children's Services including:

• As last year, the very large majority of provision for children under five in nurseries and primary schools is good and some is outstanding.
• The high proportion of effective primary schools continues and three quarters are good or better.
• Most secondary schools continue to be good or better. Of the eight local authority maintained schools, five are good or outstanding.
• The number of good special schools has improved.
• Both the fostering and adoption agencies are good as are most independent fostering agencies commissioned by the local authority to support children in its care. Just over a half of the private or voluntary run children's homes used to place looked after children are good or better,
• All published indicators for education standards and progress are at least in line with national averages and a large majority are above similar areas.
• Performance shows a continuous trend of improvement in attainment for16- and 19-year-olds.
• The proportion of looked after children attaining five A* to C grades at GCSE is above similar areas.
• The proportion of young people engaged in education, training or employment at the age of 16 is greater than in similar areas.

More 19-year-olds from low-income families achieve level 2 and level 3 qualifications than nationally, and the gap with all young people in Southend-on-Sea is reducing more rapidly than elsewhere