Schools maintain standards

CHILDREN’S services in Warrington have maintained the overall “good” rating they achieved 12 months ago, according to education watchdogs Ofsted.
As last year, Ofsted say the borough still has an outstanding, or excellent, capacity to improve.
Continued improvement is recognised in some areas – while it others there remain concerns, according to Ofsted’s Annual Performance Assessment (APA).
Coun Sheila Woodyatt, (pictured) the council’s executive member for children’s services said: “This excellent result is a public recognition of the hard work and continued commitment by our staff who do the very best for Warrington’s children and young people.”
Norma Cadwallader, strategic director for children’s services added: “I am delighted that the inspection team recognised our ability to take effective action to make improvements where these are needed, and the good progress made in most of the areas identified in last year’s APA and the joint area review.
“I am very proud of our achievements and the staff who gave such good service to all of our children.”
The assessments are made under seven headings.
Two, Enjoying and Achieving and Capacity to Improve, are judged to be “outstanding”.
The other five, Overall effectiveness, being healthy, staying safe, making a positive contribution and achieving economic wellbeing, are judged to be “good”.
Ofsted says Warrington is consistently delivering services for children and young people that are above minimum requirements.
Capacity to improve, including management services, is outstanding.
But the APA flags up some shortcomings.
These include the number of annual dental checks, which while above the national average, have declined in the last year.
Under “Staying Safe”, Ofsted say the percentage of core assessments carried out within 35 days is well below the national average.
Under “Enjoying and Achieving”, while the contribution to services to improve outcomes for children is outstanding, two primary schools are currently in Ofsted areas of concerning.
Under “Making a Positive contribution”, the proportion of looked after children participating in their statutory reviews is below that of similar councils.
In addition, the council has not yet fully established systems where the views of all children are more routinely embedded ion its consultation processes.