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Child abuse 'lessons not learnt' Child abuse 'lessons not learnt'
(41 minutes later)
Lessons are not learnt from instances of serious child abuse and death in England because many case reviews are inadequate, inspectors have said.Lessons are not learnt from instances of serious child abuse and death in England because many case reviews are inadequate, inspectors have said.
The annual report from Ofsted - which now covers all children's services - said 38 of the 92 serious case reviews evaluated last year were inadequate.The annual report from Ofsted - which now covers all children's services - said 38 of the 92 serious case reviews evaluated last year were inadequate.
Staff in some services were not well equipped to respond to signs of abuse and neglect, it said. It said some staff were not equipped to respond to signs of abuse and neglect.
Despite improvements, poor children are more likely to receive poor services. Child protection is under the spotlight after the death of 17-month-old Baby P in Haringey, north London.
Some 8% of children's homes were judged inadequate, with safeguarding of children, and management, the areas most frequently needing improvement. Disadvantaged pupils
The report said a "major concern" was that three in 10 minor (non-association) independent schools did not fully meet the requirements for safeguarding pupils.The report said a "major concern" was that three in 10 minor (non-association) independent schools did not fully meet the requirements for safeguarding pupils.
While educational achievement was improving overall there was too much variation between areas, and outcomes for disadvantaged pupils broadly had not improved, relative to those from better off homes.While educational achievement was improving overall there was too much variation between areas, and outcomes for disadvantaged pupils broadly had not improved, relative to those from better off homes.
In 2007, only 21% of children on free school meals achieved the equivalent of five good GCSEs including English and maths, compared with 49% of other pupils. If you are poor you are more likely to receive poor services: disadvantage compounds disadvantage Christine GilbertOfsted chief inspector In 2007, only 21% of children on free school meals achieved the equivalent of five good GCSEs including English and maths, compared with 49% of other pupils.
'Must do better' Chief inspector Christine Gilbert said: "To compare favourably with the best in the world, education in England must do better."
And in general more than half of England's teenagers still finish their schooling without achieving that GCSE benchmark. Some 8% of children's homes were judged inadequate by Ofsted, with safeguarding of children and management the areas most frequently needing improvement.
The chief inspector Christine Gilbert told journalists: "To compare favourably with the best in the world, education in England must do better."
She said in the report: "There's a strong link across every sector between deprivation and poor quality provision.She said in the report: "There's a strong link across every sector between deprivation and poor quality provision.
"This means that children and families already experiencing relative deprivation face further inequity in the quality of care and support for their welfare, learning and development."This means that children and families already experiencing relative deprivation face further inequity in the quality of care and support for their welfare, learning and development.
"In short, if you are poor you are more likely to receive poor services: disadvantage compounds disadvantage.""In short, if you are poor you are more likely to receive poor services: disadvantage compounds disadvantage."
Co-ordinated protection
But Ms Gilbert added it was possible to "buck this trend" and some places were outstanding.But Ms Gilbert added it was possible to "buck this trend" and some places were outstanding.
She said: "Typically the provision that really makes a difference is ambitious.She said: "Typically the provision that really makes a difference is ambitious.
"It does not believe that anyone's past or present circumstances should define their future.""It does not believe that anyone's past or present circumstances should define their future."
On Monday Children's Secretary Ed Balls announced that every part of England was to be covered by a Children's Trust Board.On Monday Children's Secretary Ed Balls announced that every part of England was to be covered by a Children's Trust Board.
The boards, which aim to prevent abuse by co-ordinating child protection workers, will also be strengthened.The boards, which aim to prevent abuse by co-ordinating child protection workers, will also be strengthened.
His move followed the failure of social workers in the London borough of Haringey to prevent the abuse and death of the 17-month-old boy known for legal reasons only as Baby P. His move followed the failure of social workers in the London borough of Haringey to prevent the abuse and death of the 17-month-old boy known for legal reasons as Baby P.
Announcing the measures, Mr Balls acknowledged that protection agencies had been failing to intervene early enough in some cases.Announcing the measures, Mr Balls acknowledged that protection agencies had been failing to intervene early enough in some cases.