Children's services performing well

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TWO years since Warrington’s services to children and young people were condemned as “inadequate” the borough is now “performing well.”
This is the conclusion of education watchdog Ofsted, in its annual assessment of services provided to children and young people.
The large majority of services, settings and institutions in Warrington inspected by Ofsted are judged to be good or better and provision overall is found to help children and young people to learn and to stay safe.
But there are still areas for improvement – including four secondary schools and four secondary school sixth forms said to be only satisfactory.
Overall, there is a significant improvement on the situation two years ago, says Ofsted.
The two local authority owned children’s homes have improved and are now judged to be good and significant improvements have been noted in relation to the quality of safeguarding services.
Education attainment and provision in the borough is one of the key strengths highlighted.
Most nurseries and primary school provision is good and some is outstanding, the large majority of secondary schools are good or better and nearly all provision for special education is good or outstanding and the pupil referral unit is good.
Educational standards in national tests at ages five, 11, 16 and 19 in the borough are above national averages and continue to improve.
However, Ofsted says key areas of provision remain only satisfactory. One third of childminders are satisfactory – below the average in similar areas and nationally.
Four secondary schools, four secondary sixth forms and a recently inspected children’s centre are judged only satisfactory, as are the fostering and adoption agencies, which were both inspected in 2010.
Two primary schools are inadequate. However, Ofsted’s monitoring visits show strong
support from the borough council in helping it to address serious weaknesses and in improving teaching and learning.
Very young children from low-income families do not achieve as well as their peers of the same age and the gap is wider than in similar areas or nationally
At age 16, more young people from low-income families are gaining at least five A* to C grades at GCSE, but the gap between this group and the rest shows little sign of closing.
Cllr Colin Froggatt, the borough council’s executive member for children and young people’s services said: “Over the last two years everyone in this council has worked tirelessly to improve and transform the services we provide to the children and young people of Warrington to ensure that we give them a good start, provide a good education and keep them safe. This Ofsted rating shows we are well on our way to doing this.”
Kath O’Dwyer, executive director of children and young people’s services said: “This achievement and Ofsted’s acknowledgement of the progress made in our improvement journey, reinforces my belief that we are well on our way to delivering an outstanding service in the future. I really can’t thank the managers and staff enough for all their hard work and dedication over the past two years.
“There is still much to do if we are to ensure that we deliver the best possible services to all children and young people in Warrington but our services now serve children well.”
Action plans are already in place to deal with problems identified, the council says.
The Ofsted report can be seen at http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/local-authorities/warrington
Pictured: Colin Froggatt and Kath O’Dwyer


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Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.

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