Ofsted highlights best practice in ten best performing children's services
Ofsted has produced a report highlighting aspects of best practice in the ten children's services judged by it in December 2009 to be performing excellently. That is the highest of four possible ratings. In these highest-performing local authorities, Ofsted judged the overall effectiveness of a very large majority of inspected services and settings as good or excellent. The new report analyses some of the key factors that led to their high performance and illustrates these with practical examples.
The report states that local authorities judged as excellent had a good track record of closing the gaps in outcomes between these children and others of the same age. They take the views of young people, parents and carers whom they serve very seriously and find creative and innovative ways of meeting their needs.
Ofsted concludes that it is consistency and ambition that have led to improved outcomes. While excellent authorities already do the things that they should be doing very well, they know that there is always more to do. Aspiration and tenacity are strong features of the way that they are led and managed.
The main characteristics of the best-performing authorities show:
- consistency in practice that is driving real improvement of local services
- a clear focus on the children and young people who need support most and on their progress and development
- a deep understanding of local children, families and communities.
Each of these characteristics is considered in more detail in the report and illustrated by the case studies.
The ten authorities featured are:
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Camden
- City of London
- Kensington and Chelsea
- Kingston upon Thames
- Lewisham
- Richmond upon Thames
- Tower Hamlets
- Wandsworth
- York.
Extract from Family Law Week
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