Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA)

Mike Cladingbowl

Her Majesty's Inspector, Ofsted

21 April 2009

Ofsted’s key duties

We are to promote improvement in the public services we inspect or regulate

We are to ensure services are focused on users

We are to see that services are efficient and effective

Education and Inspections Act 2006

CAA story update

SSRG in November 2009

Response to Ofsted consultation

Joint CAA framework published on 10 February 2009

Inspection pilots (looked after children and safeguarding)

Joint CAA guidance published on 31 March 2009

Lord Laming report (and government response)

Frameworks and guidance for looked after children and safeguarding inspections in May 2009

Arrangements for annual rating of performance of council children's services in May 2009

Main elements of CAA

Area assessment (unscored)

Organisational assessment (scored)

‘Managing performance &use of resources’

Ofsted rating for

council children’s services

‘Priorities, outcomes & prospects’

Narrative reporting on Every Child Matters

Risk-based, proportionate, bespoke inspections

Few ‘rolling’ programmes of inspection

CAA Quarterly and Annual CycleJanuary/March/June Quarters

Stage 1

Review outcomes quarterly

Initial identification of tags and

possible flags for area assessment

Stage 2

Joint analysis of outcomes in relation to local and national

priorities

Joint consideration of other possible tags and flags and evidence for organisational

assessment score

Stage 3

Draft findings agreed between inspectorates and shared with area &

government office

Peer quality assurance in June/July

Individual inspectorates Joint inspectorate

September Quarter

Stages 1-3

Update stages 1-3

Stage 4

Report drafted and shared

Stage 5

Final quality

assurance

Stage 6

Share report with area & government

office

Stage 7

Final report

November

Formal evaluation at end of year 1 and subsequently

Unfinished business from November…

Response to consultation

Learning from trials

Self-evaluation

Performance bands for NIS

Additional underpinning data

IT and systems (Sharepoint/passwords)

Pilots of safeguarding and looked after children inspections

Methodology for producing the rating

Safeguarding and looked after children

full inspection of safeguarding and services for looked after children three-yearly with other inspectorates

- single event, single report but separate judgements

- universal through to specialist

- strategic management through to quality of practice

- case files, meetings, documents, observation

- multi-agency prevention and intervention

New surveys of users, social work & other staff, and the third sector

Inspection over two weeks

Typically four inspectors

Safeguarding judgements

Overall effectiveness - capacity to improve - recommendations and required actions

Leadership & management, including partnerships

Quality of provision

Outcomes for children and young people - children are safe - children feel safe

Looked after children judgements

Overall effectiveness - capacity to improve - recommendations and required actions Leadership & management, including partnerships Quality of provision Outcomes for children and young people - Being healthy - Staying safe - Enjoying and achieving - Making a positive contribution - Achieving economic wellbeing

Unannounced inspections annual unannounced inspection of contact, assessment

and referral for children in need or who may be in need of protection

- evaluation of how well practice manages risk, minmising incidence of abuse and neglect but not a proxy for full safeguarding or even all child protection work

- working alongside front-line staff

Report by letter identifying strengths and weaknesses

- single event, single report but separate judgements

- universal through to specialist

New surveys

Typically two inspectors for two days

Inspection &

regulation findings

Every Child Matters

indicators (NIS) ?

Annual rating of

children’s services

Area Assessment

Organisational Assessment

A new profile of performance & rating

ChildmindersChildcare on domestic premises Childcare on non-domestic premises Nurseries (in schools) Primary SchoolsSecondary schools Special schools Pupil referral units Sixth form (in schools, secondary and PRU)

Likely groupings in new profile of performance (summary)

GFE and tertiary colleges 6 form colleges Independent specialist colleges Children’s homesLA fostering agencyLA adoption agency Private fostering

Principles

Greater emphasis on the findings of inspection and regulation

Complements and informs CAA (priorities, outcomes, prospects)

Recognises importance of good or better quality services for all

- 80% good or better

- 65% good or better

- 50% good or better

Takes account of safeguarding and looked after children inspections

‘Rules’ based, aiding transparency and consistency

Role of the NIS – 2009 and beyond

No briefings

Timescale for rating

Profiles available in June

Draft rating by mid September

Appeal process – tight time scale

Rating confirmed early October

Published in CAA organisational assessment and by letter

Text in CAA area and organisational assessment

Year 1 – may need explanation of particular rating with draft training in mid September

Ofsted’s CAA team

New team…

Divisional manager (SCS)

Managing Inspector

12 specialist inspectors (HMI) organised by GO regions

Complemented by…

New ‘link inspectors’ for across full remit

‘Front-of-house’ and offer a view on patterns of performance as well as on individual inspections or regulatory activity

‘Available on request’ but not intending routine KIT meetings