Services for young people adjudged excellent

Shropshire County Council’s services for children and young people are among the best in the country, after Government auditors announced the authority was among a handful of councils to have achieved outstanding results across the board – for the third year running.

The results of 2007’s Annual Performance Assessment were unveiled by Ofsted today, and Shropshire’s services for children and young people have been given an excellent bill of health. Shropshire County Council’s services are rated the highest possible score of grade 4 in all areas – being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution, achieving economic well-being, capacity to improve, and the overall effectiveness of children’s services.

Councillor Ann Hartley, Cabinet member for children’s services, said: “To have excellent marks across the board for the third year running is a phenomenal achievement, and I would like to congratulate everyone involved on such a positive report.”

Carol Tiddy, acting corporate director of Children & Young People’s Services, added: “This report shows just how hard our staff are working to ensure the best possible outcomes for the children of Shropshire. The inspectors praised the work of the council and its partners and agencies, including the voluntary sector, which is very heartening to see.”

The report said: “The contribution of the local authority towards children and young people is outstanding in all areas. Children and young people’s services provide a number of significant contributions to improving the life chances of young people across a large rural county.

“Audit Commission data shows that schools are consistently happy with services, rating them all as above satisfactory. The local authority has responded well to recommendations made in last year’s APA, and has made very good progress in improving the work of its services and raising the aspirations and life chances of children and young people.”

26 November 2007