This page tells you more about some of the key inspections of children’s services carried out by Ofsted.
Ofsted now inspect many different aspects of the work children’s services do and they aren’t all covered here, but this page discusses those with a particularly high profile and with implications for work right across children’s services in Leeds. You can read more about all inspections carried out in Leeds through the link to the Ofsted website further down this page.
The coalition government has
indicated that there may be changes to aspects of how local services are
inspected. For example, CAA inspection
will not continue in their current form.
We will use these pages to update you on only significant changes for Children’s
Services but for now the information below is correct in relation to our most
recent key inspections.
Leeds Annual Rating
On 9th December Ofsted published its annual rating for children's services in Leeds. You can read the letter that relates to the Leeds rating here.
The rating reflects all inspections of services and settings that have taken place across children's services during the year up until the end of September 2009, as well as key performance information.
It was particularly influenced by the unannounced inspection that took place on the 21 and 22 July 2009, which looked specifically at the council's front line processes and practices in relation to contact, referral and assessment arrangements for children and young people in Leeds.
Following that unannounced inspection a standard communication presentation was developed to help explain the findings and the improvement work taking place. You can access this presentation here.
Announced Inspection
Between the 23rd November and the 4th December 2009, Ofsted undertook an announced inspection of services for safeguarding and Looked After Children in Leeds. For a summary of the overall inspection findings and the key recommendations please read this presentation.
The full inspection report is available on the Ofsted website.
Next Steps
By understanding the lessons from these inspections we can be better placed to work together so that we improve our services, help keep children and safe and improve outcomes.
For regular updates look out for news in the Every Child Matters Update and for our Working Together Better Update. Find Out More about the Comprehensive Area Assessment
If you want to know more about the Ofsted inspection framework for children's services and guidance for local authorities which includes information about the new Comprehensive Area Assessment, visit the Ofsted website.
If you have any questions about the new inspection framework please call the Director of Children’s Services Unit on 0113 39 50247. Barbara Newton is the lead officer for this work across Children’s Services in Leeds.
