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Ofsted today publishes the outcomes of the new annual children’s services ratings which look at performance in 152 local authorities in England for 2009.

The annual children’s services rating is a wide-ranging and robust assessment of the outcomes for children and young people in every local authority area which is strongly based on the evidence from inspections. The rating provides a picture of services for children in a local area drawn from a wide range of local services and settings. It places an emphasis on the direct observation of professional practice – including inspection of child protection services and safeguarding, childcare, schools, children’s social care and provision in the learning and skills sector.

The new annual children’s services rating provides an overview of each council’s performance in relation to children’s services for which they have strategic or operational responsibilities (either alone or in partnership with other agencies) and the difference they are making to children’s lives.

The performance ratings for 2009 show that over two thirds (103) of councils are providing excellent or good services for children and young people, with 40 offering services that are performing adequately. Nine councils are performing poorly overall, due mainly to weaknesses in safeguarding children.

Commenting on the ratings Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, said:

'Ofsted’s new inspection system gives us the clearest picture yet of what is happening on the ground for children and young people where they live.

'In this first year of our new approach, I have made it clear that we have raised expectations for local authorities. We are considering a wider range of services and outcomes for children and young people, and in that sense we are being more demanding. We are also using more first hand inspection evidence, gathered by a range of highly knowledgeable and experienced inspectors looking at services and settings, from schools and childcare, to services for vulnerable children, and those for young people in colleges and sixth forms. Particular emphasis is given to frontline evidence from the new inspections of child protection, safeguarding and services for looked after children in local authorities introduced in June 2009.

'These results show that the majority of councils are doing a good job and the vast majority are at least satisfactory. A very small minority are performing poorly, in large part because they are not ensuring that children are as safe as possible.

Inspectors have made judgements in a rounded way, balancing all the evidence. Within each of the four levels there are likely to be stronger and weaker aspects of provision. For example, a rating of 'excellent' does not indicate that everything is perfect. Similarly, within a judgement of 'performs poorly', it is possible that some aspects of the overall service are adequate or even good and, indeed already improving.

'However, those councils which are performing excellently must be commended. Their achievement is highly significant, not just for the children and young people they serve but because they have shown that it can be done. Those which are good should be inspired to excellence, and those which are satisfactory should look for best practice to accelerate improvement. The small number of poorly performing authorities must renew their determination to improve, in the knowledge that it is both possible and necessary.'

The following table provides a breakdown of the number of councils achieving each grade in the 2009 children’s services ratings:

It should be noted that within each level there will be differing standards of provision. For example, a rating of ‘performs excellently’ does not mean all aspects of provision are outstanding. Similarly, a rating of ‘performs poorly’ does not mean there are no adequate or even good aspects.

Characteristics of the best performing councils include:

• children generally get off to a good start in the early years and continue to do well throughout each stage of their education
• councils engage effectively with children and families and involve them in decision making
• the majority of services are good and achieve good or outstanding outcomes for children, young people and families
• provision is good or better for children and young people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable
• the best councils have very good quality assurance and strong performance management.

Characteristics of poorly performing councils include:

• serious weaknesses in aspects of social care provision for children and young people who are therefore not adequately safeguarded
• inadequacies in assuring good quality across teams and services and in the assessment of children’s needs
• children’s views are not consistently taken into account
• insufficient numbers of permanent and experienced social workers
• low levels of performance across services, which mean children have poorer outcomes.

The children’s services rating forms an important component of the joint inspectorate Comprehensive Area Assessment, also published today under Oneplace.

Notes for Editors