Almost one in five local youth services running clubs and after-school activities for teenagers is inadequate, according to Ofsted inspectors.
While the quality of services has improved, a “significant minority” of councils are failing to improve youth work in their area. Ofsted said youth workers were essential in helping disruptive youngsters improve their behaviour but too many councils failed to recognise this. Of 33 local authority youth services inspected 15 were good or better, while seven were “inadequate”.