Bradford Council’s Children’s Services have been rated as “adequate” by Government inspectors – a slight fall in standards from the previous year when they were rated as “good”.

Ofsted today released the results of its in-depth Annual Performance Assessments (APAs) on Children’s Services offered by councils across the country.

The report found Bradford’s services “meet minimum requirements”.

The inspectors assessments were in the five areas of the Government’s Every Child Matters objectives.

The Staying Safe and Making a Positive Contribution categories were rated as “good”. According to the assessment Bradford has “excellent arrangements for tracking children missing from care and education which have dramatically reduced the number of missing children or young people”.

The report also praises Bradford Council’s “effective consultation mechanisms” saying that young people in Bradford have a positive view of how their opinions were considered.

It was, however, indicated that some education and health outcomes are proving difficult to improve.

Under the Enjoying and Achieving heading, it was noted that “levels of attainment remain below those for similar areas and the national average”.

In the Achieving Economic Well-Being category the point score for GCSE and A-level students was found to be “well below” the national figure.

The Being Healthy objective was found to be adequate, but the report states: “Levels of infant mortality and obesity are higher (in Bradford) than in similar council areas.

“Despite some improvements in primary schools, the rate of progress made by young people in secondary schools is not yet as good as in similar areas.”

The report said the Council has adequate capacity to improve its services but “it does not yet have a good track record of improvement across all outcomes”.

Councillor Michael Kelly, Bradford Council’s executive member for children’s services and education, said: “The APA report highlights many strengths and some areas for improvement. The areas which have been found to not be achieving as well as others are already being looked at and any issues will be addressed.”

Kath Tunstall, the Council’s strategic director for services to children and young people, said: “We are aware there are areas where our progress needs to be accelerated while recognising that throughout the service our excellent staff are working hard, some in challenging circumstances, to ensure children, young people and their families are given the support they need.”

Children’s services at Calderdale and Leeds councils were also rated as adequate overall and Kirklees and North Yorkshire were rated as good.