Thumbs-Up for Children's Services!

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 23rd Jun 2006

As part of a series of external inspections of Milton Keynes Council taking place this spring, a Joint Area Review (JAR) of all local services for children and their families has recently taken place.

The JAR includes everything from an assessment of school and college performance to council and health services, together with police and voluntary activities.

The JAR also reported on Milton Keynes Children and Young People's Plan 2006-2009 which aims to create an environment where children and young people can achieve the best possible physical, personal and educational outcomes and the Council's and its partners' capacity to continue to improve services.

The results give everyone a big thumbs-up since local services were rated as delivering at least soundly, including those packages of help for the most vulnerable children and young people.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Euan Henderson, cabinet member responsible for the new school building programme, said: "I was particularly pleased to see new schools and our programme to change the age of transfer from primary to secondary school singled out for praise. Milton Keynes is a great place to grow up."

Local health services scored "good" and the JAR team also found "good" opportunities for children and young people to participate in services designed for them and to have their voices heard at all levels.

Barbara Kennedy, Chief Executive of Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust, commented: "The PCT welcomes the report and will be doing everything it can to support Milton Keynes Council and partners to ensure we achieve excellent outcomes for our children over time."

The JAR inspectors have confirmed Milton Keynes' good track record at working in partnership to support young people and that the Council delivers major improvement programmes well - citing, among other examples, the change in the age of transfer.

The JAR recognises that Milton Keynes is a very busy place and urges the Council to keep a close eye on the resources it makes available for children and young people because their numbers are growing so rapidly.

Ian Revell, representing MK Council for Voluntary Youth Services, added: "Colleagues in the independent sector were pleased that the inspectors recognised a strong set of mature relationships which, in their own words 'reflects a long history of effective community groups and a strong voluntary sector'".

The Youth Service has also had its own assessment and has been identified as "good". The report identifies it as providing a service that is good value for money. It also states: "Young people achieve well and take advantage of opportunities as responsible members of their community."

Liberal Democrat Councillor Sandra Clark, cabinet member responsible for children, said: "My portfolio also includes the Youth Service. It makes me feel proud to see that our different approaches and real involvement of young people is recognised in the report."