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Local Education Authorities: Standards

Answer

The performance of local authorities and their partners in improving outcomes for children and young people is assessed by Ofsted and other inspectorates. Since 2005, they have made an annual performance assessment of children's services in each local authority, and have been undertaking a programme of joint area reviews which will include every local authority area in England once between 2005 and 2008. Ofsted's April 2007 publication "Narrowing the Gap: The Inspection of Children's Services" found an improving picture, with children's services in 107 out of the 139 authorities covered by the report making a good or excellent contribution towards delivering better outcomes for children and young people.A number of areas have been assessed, by either an annual performance assessment or a joint area review, to be making an inadequate contribution to improving one or more aspects of children's services. They are Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Herefordshire, Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly, Medway, North East Lincolnshire, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Sandwell, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Thurrock.The Government support and challenge all local authorities to improve their performance, with activity co-ordinated through the appropriate Government Office. Where a local authority is failing to perform functions to an adequate standard, the Secretary of State will, as a last resort, consider use of his statutory powers to secure the proper performance of functions. This can include directing that functions are performed in a particular way or by a specified person on behalf of the authority.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

149078; 463 c107W

Session

2006-07

Subjects

Local education authorities Standards

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk