Rationale for Selection. Quantitative indication of the pattern of ED use for non-emergent reasons by Medicaid beneficiaries.
Rationale for Selection. The Key Stage 3 target has been selected for the following reasons, each of which requires an additional focus of attention and further resources in order to address the issues raised. While progress has been made in the Key Stage 3 performance in schools there remains a significant challenge in meeting the aspirational targets set in the Education Development Plan. Similarly good progress has also been made in the core subjects in KS2, however, there currently remains approximately a quarter of pupils arriving into KS3 with attainment below the national expectation of level 4. These pupils are not evenly distributed across the secondary sector and as such provide some schools with significant challenges in raising their attainment to this level in their first year and then on towards the national expectation at the end of Key Stage 3 The Key Stage 3 Strategy, now in its second year, has been targeted progressively. The focus in year 1 was on literacy and numeracy, mostly aimed at Year 7, with a group of schools who received intensive support. The original intention was to move the programme on through all schools across a three year period. It has become clear that support for one year only is insufficient to address the issues in some schools and the strategy will need to continue support - thus reducing what is available to the schools in phase two and three. Although specific additional support is available in year 8 and through the booster classes in year 9 further targeted work is required particularly in those schools in challenging circumstances who have large cohorts of children with low prior attainment. This year Science, ICT and teaching and learning, particularly in the foundation subjects, have also been introduced into the KS3 Strategy. A further strand, supporting behaviour and attendance, is to be introduced from September 2003. The introduction of such a comprehensive range of strategies requires particularly good leadership and management by the schools. Significant work is required in order to support school leadership, particularly the KS3 strategy managers and heads of department, in drawing the individual strands of the strategy together across the school so that it has the maximum impact on standards for all students. Details of recent audit & inspection findings that support the selection of this target Ofsted inspection of LEA schools have identified raising attainment as key issues in those schools where KS3 performance falls bel...
Rationale for Selection. Recent data emerging suggests that children who gain level 4+ at the end of KS2 have better life chances; Data from 1997 KS2 results – 2002 GCSE results 94% of pupils with L5+ gain 5+ A* - C 69% of pupils with L4+ gain 5+ A*-C BUT 89% of pupils BELOW L4 did not gain 5+ A* - C There was a 1% decrease in English in 2002 and a plateau in Maths from 1999 – 2002 It will support the EiC rollout to Primary Schools which will seek to raise attainment and change attitudes to learning. • Details of recent audit & inspection findings that will support the selection of the target Although the last 14 inspections have been very positive with 2 schools coming out of serious weakness category and the quality of teaching and learning and standards being satisfactory or better there is a consistent comment regarding management and assessment. A number of key issues ask for improvement in the role of co-ordinator in monitoring planning and assessment and also that the link between assessment, tracking and planning needs to be stronger.
Rationale for Selection. Reaching the stretching targets identified in our EDP and through the LPSA process can only be achieved if children attend school regularly. While the Wirral average for attendance in primary and secondary sector is in line with national averages there are parts of the Wirral, especially in the areas of high deprivation, where attendance of a substantial minority of students is erratic at best and at worst very poor. Half termly analysis of attendance figures in secondary schools reveal a surprising and worrying trend of girls absence. There are a number of root causes for this: use of these elder children as carers for siblings; lack of appropriate work based opportunities for disaffected girls; and the possible presumption, prior to the analysis, that poor attendance is often a “naughty boys” issue. The resources and freedoms available through the LPSA process may allow the department to develop innovative approaches to managing this issue. ▪ Details of recent audit & inspection findings that will support the selection of the target Attendance has featured as a key issue in each of the secondary schools placed in serious weakness through OFSTED inspections. While no school now remains in this category attendance in these schools still remains below the national expectation of 92%. Attendance has also featured in a number of reports where schools have been deemed to be providing a good education. All schools have identified a range of strategies to address these issues, drawn from best practice, but this remains a stubborn issue to address. Four secondary schools have set statutory targets for unauthorised attendance. All secondary schools have set attendance targets as part of the Excellence in Cities Learning mentor strand. There is a national expectation - identified in the Ofsted secondary handbook that all year groups should achieve at least 90% attendance and that the school average should be at least 92% • Definition and scope Reduce unauthorised absence in schools identified by the DFES in line with the targets set with the overall aim of bringing unauthorised absence in these schools at least in line with the national or local average whichever is the lower. Improve the attendance of girls in key stage 4 to bring them in line with the local average within two years and the national expectation by the end of the third year
Rationale for Selection. This is the proactive target recommended by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) which reflects the current poor performance in Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) terms in relation to the provision of services to enough older people. (The comparitor used is our “family group”). This poor performance is especially true of low level support services and we have been using Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) monies to assist in improving this in the NRF target wards. Information in our Autumn Position Statement submission and in PAF returns would support the view that whilst we have a reasonably high level of placements and use of intensive home care, we are not supporting enough older people.
Rationale for Selection. This target emphasises the authority’s commitment as a corporate parent. Research informs us, that children only succeeded well in education when all their needs are met, and they are supported to fulfil their potential. Whilst recognising the importance of educational qualifications for looked after children, the national indicators so far have not been able to demonstrate effectively, whether or not the individual authority has been able to impact positively for each individual child. National indicators currently measure the outcome of a children undertaking GCSE exams. Success in this area can be an indication of the intellectual ability of the children concerned, rather than demonstrating how services have benefited that individuals performance. For example: Child with learning difficulties within the system may make significant strides but, that progress will not be recognised if the target does not recognise individual progress, only exam success. Similarly an able intellectual child may not achieve their potential ( 7 A* grades ) but still achieve 5 GCSEs grade A-C and be regarded as a success. This target will require a commitment from and the co-operation of all services involved with looked after children to ensure their needs are met. Baroness Xxxxxxx (the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Early Years and School Standards) in October 2001 gave her support and commitment to using a target of this nature (a value added approach) to measuring the educational attainment for children looked after. This approach is captured in the Department of Health document “Education Protects”. This target links both to corporate priorities for young people and the long-term goals for the Council around lifelong learning and economic prosperity given that these young people if properly engaged are Wirral's potential future. Lack of success within the care system, leads to young adults who become over-represented within the criminal justice system, or require services and support long-term because of mental health problems. This target and would therefore have strong links with the Council's Neighbourhood Renewal Schemes as areas with high levels of deprivation produced high levels of looked after children.
Rationale for Selection. Overall Wirral has a relatively low life expectancy in relation to the England average. In addition it also has some of the largest documented differences in life expectancy within its population. Thus within the Wirral an individual’s life span varies by 10 years depending on within which wards they live. The Government have made reducing such inequalities one of their priorities and this document provides a rationale for selecting Life Expectancy as a Wirral PSA target and a methodology for its achievement. The trend in life expectancy indicates that the gap between Wirral and England is staying fairly constant. However, the gaps in life expectancy between the most disadvantaged wards on the Wirral (Neighbourhood Renewal Fund - NRF - wards) and both England and the rest of Wirral are increasing.
Rationale for Selection. Face to face contact is a vital component of an access strategy. It is the contact channel of choice by many services user who are in the most need or unable to access services by any other route. The target is to provide a high percentage of local residents with easily accessible face to face contact points. These points will be able to provide a service that will either fully deal with the service through One Stop Shops or be able to give information and first stage advice on council services, as well as have access to partner organisation information. The target will address this requirement and utilise wherever possible current access points, suitably positioned and clearly identified. This will minimise additional expenditure whilst maximising appropriate use of current buildings. Indirectly it will increase complementary service usage and significantly increase joint working with partner agencies, such as Job Centre Plus and the Pensions Service. By linking with external agencies such as Job Centre Plus and the DWP it will assist towards a thriving economy, as has proved so successful with current One Stop Shop sites with Job Centre Plus’ Action Team for Jobs. The close relationship to local libraries will enhance their joint roles in providing better opportunities for learning and in providing information. It has the potential to improve advice on social care. Vital to the success of the target will be use of technology, to provide linked information on services and users and will also be the driver to ensure access to partner organisations. Improvement will be seen as more people access services getting information in a more co-ordinated way. This will provide overall service efficiencies. This is already ongoing and this LPSA will focus improvement in new areas and allow us to successfully introduce more access to services.
Rationale for Selection. The list of performance indicators identified below reflects the priorities of the Council and this LPSA.
Rationale for Selection. The Government recently issued its Action Plan for Sustainable Communities (ODPM 2003). In it Government is critical of present practices which are wasteful of xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx land. New developments have often taken far more land than they need. Full potential of previously developed land has not been exploited. PPG3 Housing (March 2000) focuses on a sequential approach to housing development whereby maximum use is made of re-using existing building, redeveloping on former housing and other uses and finally and only as a last resort building on new Greenfield or green belt sites. Regional (RPG) and local (UDP, soon to be replaced by Local Development Frameworks) are committed to regeneration and use of the strict protection of green belt G sites as a policy tool to direct new developments to existing urban sites.
