Newsletter

New DCSF Review and the TFC SEF

Answers for Perspective users.

 

DCSF Performance, Achievement and Outcomes Review

Angel Solutions have researched the new DCSF REVIEW document and can now confirm the following Perspective developments to support not only the new REVIEW but the existing TFC SEF as well.

The underlying structure of the new REVIEW is very similar to the existing TFC SEF. This is good news for existing users as the BSQs, the evidence gathered, the judgements made etc can all be used and will automatically populate the REVIEW in the same way as they populate the existing SEF. So there is minimal training effort required to cater for the new REVIEW for existing users.

We will phase in functionality to support the new REVIEW document in the coming months with Phase 1 due for release mid April 2010. This phase will include the following:

1. a NEW additional report in the Reports/SEF section called the DCSF REVIEW. This will replicate the new DCSF REVIEW and populate this from the existing responses inside Perspective along with any new or modified questions/answers. This does mean Local Authorities and Children's Centres can choose whether to continue with the TFC SEF or switch to the new DCSF REVIEW.
2. Guidance will be updated to support the new REVIEW in terms of the approach to answering BSQs and in particular the incorporation of the Priorities for the coming year in each of the Centre Contribution to ECM Outcome sections.
3. Perspective will update the wording for any questions that have changed in the new REVIEW.
4. Perspective will update the 'Record Data' and 'Make Judgement' sections to cater for any new or modified questions. There may well be some minor reordering of BSQs to support the new REVIEW question ordering.
5. Any new content will be added as blank textboxes for users to complete. Where questions have been modified from the TFC SEF, the users existing answers will remain.

We have produced an outline of our understanding of the differences between the new DCSF Review and the TFC SEF. Click on the link in the right hand column to access the relevant information

Common Myths

1. The new Ofsted FRAMEWORK v14 is known but the Ofsted SEF is not - ie anyone quoting they've seen the new SEF is 'PROBABLY' talking about the Ofsted framework and not the actual new Ofsted SEF for Children's Centres.
2. The SEF is not a statutory document! But from regional meetings it is our understanding that any SEF can be used, namely the TFC SEF, the new REVIEW document, or even an LA specific SEF (which tend to be based around the TFC SEF and supplemented or tweaked)
3. Not all LAs are jumping ship to the REVIEW document - a healthy number have told us they are carrying on with the TFC SEF

Summary

Our goal is to ensure we support Perspective users whether they choose to continue to use the TFC SEF or switch to the DCSF REVIEW.

The Angel Solutions Team
Feb 2010