A new Ofsted report looks at the factors needed for success in special schools. The report highlights 12 outstanding schools judged to have excelled at providing for vulnerable children and young people and, Ofsted says, presents a challenge to other special and mainstream schools.

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The first twenty projects, designed by NHS staff to improve patient care have been unveiled. All frontline staff in Primary Care Trusts can set up a social enterprise to improve their services under the “right to request” scheme and the first wave of projects cover services for homeless people, children and patients with mental health problems.

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By Tim Dent

Helping people to be active is important for their health, for tackling social exclusion and for regeneration. The level of activity can vary from gyms and swimming pools to art galleries and museums. Local councils provide a whole range of these cultural activities and it is important that they give value for money to their customers. The author explains how quality and performance audits and facility ‘health checks’ can help ensure customer satisfaction.

Read more on PROMOTING HEALTHY ACTIVITY AND DELIVERING VALUE FOR MONEY…