A national report by the Government watchdog Ofsted has praised the Council’s work with young people who have learning difficulties or disabilities.
Details of the Council’s initiatives to provide targeted support have been published on the Good Practice area of the Ofsted website as one of seven case studies in the national survey on the importance of youth work for young people with disabilities.
An Ofsted inspector visited Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Peasedown and Southside Youth Hubs where she met and spoke to disabled young people and observed them in a range of youth work activities.
The inspector also met parents, carers, families and friends of the young people, youth workers from all of the Council’s Youth Hubs, and representatives from schools, colleges, Connexions, voluntary organisations and the health service.
Ofsted identified the following areas of good practice:
- Bath & North East Somerset Council has good plans for youth work for young disabled people and its Youth Service works with voluntary, charitable and community organisations to turn the plans into activities.
- Provision at Peasedown is “an excellent example of well planned, highly effective youth work”. Many of the disabled young people have been helped to overcome nervousness and grow in confidence.
- Activities available, including regular residential activities and visits, are challenging and stimulating. Young people are encouraged to develop the life skills necessary for independent living and to progress in learning.
- Activities are inclusive so that disabled young people are working, learning and having fun with non-disabled young people. Workers also run separate sessions if requested by the disabled young people.
- Young people can obtain certificates and qualifications for their achievement – designed to help them move on to employment and volunteering opportunities.
- Disabled young people have been able to influence things that concern them such as their access to public swimming facilities.
- The youth workers build very positive relationships with young people and are skilled in working with young people with additional needs.
Councillor Dine Romero (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth, said: “Young people and their parents or carers have always been very positive about our Youth Hub activities for people with disabilities so we’re delighted that Ofsted is now highlighting our examples of good practice to other organisations nationwide.
“This national recognition demonstrates Bath & North East Somerset Council’s commitment to investing in the future of our children and young people and offering them a range of opportunities so that they can enjoy their childhood and be prepared for adult life.”
Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Youth Service provides targeted support for young people including those with learning difficulties and disabilities. A particular feature of its work is the attention given to the professional development of staff so that they can work effectively together to support one another and share information and good practice.
This successful approach by the Council has also been recognised on the national professional development website, the LSIS Excellence Gateway: www.excellencegateway.org.uk/node/26182.
