Issue - meetings

To receive an oral report of the Strategic Director People. A letter dated 9 December  2009 received from Ofsted relating to the Children’s services annual rating is enclosed.

The Committee considered a letter dated 9 December 2009 from Ofsted on the Children’s Services Annual Rating.  This was now derived from a new performance profile of the quality of services and outcomes for children and young people in each local area.  The profile included findings from across Ofsted’s inspection and regulation of services and settings for which the Council had strategic or operational responsibilities, either alone or in partnership, together with data from the relevant Every Child Matters indicators in the new National Indicator Set.

The annual rating derived from a four point scale and Cheshire East scored 3 which indicated that children’s services performed well. 

The overall effectiveness of a majority of inspected services and settings was good or better.  A large percentage of childcare, nursery education and primary schools were judged to be better than similar areas or the national provision.  There was little inadequate provision but the proportion of secondary schools and sixth forms judged to be good or better was below that found in similar areas or national provision.  Provision for children and young people who were vulnerable was variable and one Children’s Home was judged inadequate, although this had now closed permanently.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.