The revisions, to be introduced as part of the Comprehensive SpendingReview, list 88 indicators for local children's services, but favoureducational attainment to the detriment of the other four Every ChildMatters outcomes.
The Association of Directors of Children's Services is concerned thiscould result in other parts of children's services being made a lowerpriority in local area agreements.
"It's a source of some concern that the 18 statutory indicators are allabout pupils' attainment," said David Hawker, chair of the association'sstandards, performance and inspection policy committee. "Our view isthat the Government should look to balance the five outcomes. There arealso some indicators about processes rather than outcomes that should beremoved, such as the number of children's centres."
Hawker said if the draft set of indicators was adopted it could resultin local authorities giving children's services less attention in localarea agreements. Authorities can choose 35 optional indicators from atotal of 200 to include in local area agreements in addition to the 18statutory indicators. But the association is worried some authoritiescould avoid including more children's services indicators in theiroptional 35 because of the 18 compulsory indicators.
"The perception could be why do we want to include more children'sservices indicators when we've already got 18," said Hawker."Ultimately, this could mean less money going to children's services."
