Children's Services

Annual Performance Assessment

What is an Annual Performance Assessment?

The Annual Performance Assessment is part of a new process for inspecting Children's Services along with the Joint Area Review.

We must submit a data set and self-assessment annually, showing how we have contributed to improving outcomes for children and young people in the local area.

While the Joint Area Review focuses on all services for children and young people, the Annual Performance Assessment looks just at our services.

When does the Annual Performance Assessment take place?

Between April and May each year.

What happens following the submission of the self-assessment?

After the submission of the self-assessment, a meeting is held with the inspectors from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission to discuss the findings in July of each year.

A letter is sent to us in the autumn, which summarises our strengths and weaknesses, before our final score is published.

The score is based on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being 'does not meet minimum requirements' and 4 being 'delivers well above minimum requirements'.

The outcomes of the Annual Performance Assessment process are fed into the Joint Area Review, a full inspection of all area services for children and young people.