Walsall Children's Services

Extended Services will be looked at as part of maintained school inspections, with Ofsted inspectors being asked to consider how far extended services in a school are contributing to learners’ outcomes. Some of the significant outcomes might include improved attendance, progress towards higher standards in respect of the Every Child Matters outcomes, as well as improved attainment and achievement.  Inspectors will also be looking at the leadership and management of services to see why particular services were chosen. 

Ofsted is already evaluating the extended services provided by schools and, since the introduction last year of revised prompts in the Self Evaluation Form, schools have been asked to consider the rationale for the services they are offering and identify evidence of the impact they are having. 

Inspectors must evaluate and report on:- 

1. The effectiveness of the school’s links with parents.
3. The quality of links with the local community, assessing, as appropriate, the extent to which the school provides a resource for, and draws from, the community.
5. The effectiveness of extended school services and educational and      support programmes for parents, families and members of the community, assessing, as appropriate, the extent to which provision:
• Is of high quality;
• Meets identified needs;
• Results in educational benefits to pupils enrolled at the school
6. The school’s links with other schools and colleges 
7. The schools strategy for raising standards will be examined to see what innovation and practice exists to sustain learning beyond the classroom
8. If the school is involved in any adult learning then there will be interest in quality and outcomes as well as outputs
9. If the school/setting is involved in any ‘care in education’ provision for children under 3 then the Ofsted Early Years Directorate will inspect them.
10. If the school is involved with Healthy Schools appropriate inspection criteria apply.
11. The resource management of the school will also be tested to ensure compliance to the variety of rules that need to be observed. This is to ensure that schools are not spending their budget share on community activities and services