Children’s services ‘performing well’

Cheryl Eastwood, Executive Director for Children’s Services at Rochdale Borough Council

Children and young people are receiving a good service from Rochdale Borough Council, according to a recent Ofsted inspection.

Inspectors gave children’s services in the council a score of 3 out of 4 - a ‘performing well’ rating. The overall assessment concluded that the council are ‘exceeding minimum requirements’ and in many areas are helping to improve the lives of young residents.

The inspection report published today (Thursday 9 December) reads: “Children’s services in Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council perform well, as they
did last year.

“The large majority of services, settings and institutions inspected by Ofsted are good or better. Most of the primary and secondary schools fall into this category, as do the nurseries, childminders and childcare providers. However, there is one inadequate primary school and six of the childminders inspected were unsatisfactory. Of the four maintained special schools inspected, three are good and one is satisfactory. The independent special schools, the special sixth form provision and the pupil referral unit are good. The further education college is only satisfactory, as is most of the secondary sixth form provision. The local authority’s adoption agency is good and its fostering agency is outstanding. Of the four local authority children’s homes inspected, two are good and the others are satisfactory. The large majority of the private and voluntary children’s homes are good or better.”

Ofsted identified that children and young people are being encouraged to lead healthy lives with the report indicating that there are now fewer 5 and 11 year olds who are overweight.

The take up of school lunches has also increased, taking it above the national average and there are more children and young people taking part in physical activities and sport.

In terms of the educational levels of children, national performance measures show that the borough is now in line, or above, the averages for England. Children under 11 years and 16 years of age are achieving as well as their peers. However 16 year olds from low income families are doing less well than others.

The report also identifies key areas for development. These are to:

• Improve the educational performance of 16 year olds from low-income families.
• Reduce the gap between the achievement of 16 year olds with special needs and others of the same age.
• Improve the quality of sixth form provision so that more of it is good or better.

Inspectors acknowledged the council’s effectiveness in bringing about improvements, notably since the previous safeguarding and looked after services inspection. To tackle underperformance they have a ‘clear readiness to make controversial decisions and redistribute resources.’

Cheryl Eastwood, Executive Director for Children’s Services at Rochdale Borough Council said: “We know that there are a few areas where we need to work to improve the services we provide, and this report helps us to prioritise. Overall I’m delighted with the ‘performing well’ grading and congratulate all involved in achieving it. We’ll continue to deliver and improve where possible.”