Ofsted Outstanding!

Posted on Friday, January 20, 2012 by Rizwan Janmohamed
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Balsall Heath Children’s Centre has been awarded the highest accolade possible from Ofsted. The Inspectors judged it to be ‘Outstanding’ on 17 separate measures of quality.

The Centre works with families from a broad range of faith, ethnic and social circumstances, in a neighbourhood which is among the 10% most deprived in the country. Inspectors saw a hive of purposeful activity, which attracts families because of its long-established and very positive reputation in the community for making real differences to people’s lives.

The Centre was praised for its strong and effective partnerships and outstanding capacity to improve. The sharp focus on performance ensures families with the highest needs receive high quality support.
Excellent leadership and good governance were acknowledged. The Centre’s lead and accountable body is St. Paul’s Community Development Trust – a charity with almost 40 years of service to the neighbourhood. Dr Anita Halliday, the Chief Executive of the Trust, said, “Our mission is to work with the community to create opportunities and achievements – this appreciation of success is wonderful.’

The diversity of the community the Centre serves was recognised within the report. Inspectors noted the many parents and carers, new to the area, who value help they receive in understanding how to access the full range of health and education services available.

The delivery of the Centre’s Early Years Services, through their two Nurseries and Stay & Play services, received high praise for preparing children for school. Children make outstanding progress in developing skills which will help them in the future.

Outreach work is very well organised and there is valuable work undertaken to support families in their own homes, particularly families with a new baby who are provided with fully comprehensive details of the services offered. The Health Promotion & Family Support Team was recognised as being very effective at identifying and engaging families in need of support and found to be extremely well regarded by those who use the Centre.

The report also said, “Families benefit from the Centre’s outstanding range of very well integrated services and parents who felt isolated within the community thrive there”.

Parents who talked to Ofsted during the inspection spoke highly of the Centre and what it has meant to them. One father said “This Centre has helped me cope with my child’s disability. It keeps me going when I get desperate and gives me hope”.

Alison Moore, Head of Children’s Services at the centre, said “To be acknowledged in the report as a determined and inspirational leader is a fantastic personal achievement for me, having been Head of the Centre since 2002. I’d like to thank all of the staff, partners, parents and the Trust for their whole hearted support, which has contributed to achieving an Outstanding Centre”.

Official Report
Click here to read our Ofsted report