Ofsted
EXCLUSIVE: Call for inspection pause in case of Brexit hit
Council chiefs have urged Whitehall to be ready to ease pressures on the sector for up to six months if Brexit threatens to stretch capacity.
Newham failing vulnerable children - Ofsted
Vulnerable children in are being ‘failed’ by Newham LBC, an Ofsted report has found.
Children ‘not being protected’ by Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Children’s social care services are ‘inadequate’ at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, according to the findings of a new Ofsted inspection.
New directors help children's services improve
A new senior leadership team has brought ‘drive, energy and focus’ to Croydon LBC’s efforts to improve after an inadequate Ofsted judgement 18 months ago, inspectors have found.
Local areas must face up to the scale of child criminal exploitation
Children's commissioner for England Anne Longfield says her recent report on improving the safeguarding response to gang violence and criminal exploitation shows many local areas are not facing up to the scale of the issue.
Public audit will soon need a spring clean
John Tizard and David Walker make the case for a new way of auditing how public money is spent that uses evidence before spending decisions are made - and includes a new office of the '3Es' (efficiency, effectiveness and equity).
Worcestershire children’s services improve
Ofsted has found Worcestershire CC has made progress in raising the standards of its children’s services.
Councils caught in the middle
Bob Neill says nailing down a robust framework to strengthen scrutiny is an essential part of the management and delivery of academies – and we still haven’t adequately filled the guardian role local authorities carry out for maintained schools
Staff turnover holding back Gloucestershire’s ‘inadequate’ children’s services
Gloucestershire CC is ‘making insufficient progress’ in improving its children’s services, according to the latest inspection.
MPs criticise Whitehall 'complacency' over inadequate children's services
A top mandarin has been accused of ‘complacency’ by MPs over the time taken to improve children’s services.
Bexley’s six pillars
Jacky Tiotto describes the six elements that drove the overall improvement and development of children’s services in Bexley LBC and took the council from an Ofsted judgement of inadequacy in 2012 to an outstanding rating in 2018
Collaboration is key in delivering the SEND reforms – a reflection on inspection
Organisations in Milton Keynes were described by Ofsted and the CQC as ‘united in their ambition for children and young people with SEND to achieve the very best outcomes’. Caroline Marriott reflects on the inspection.
Doncaster brought in to review Herefordshire children's services
Doncaster MBC will review Herefordshire Council’s children’s services following heavy criticism from a High Court judge.
Birmingham children's care no longer 'inadequate'
Children’s care services in Birmingham are no longer inadequate for the first time in more than 10 years.
Ofsted boost for Calderdale children
Calderdale Council’s children’s services has been rated as good with outstanding features in its latest Ofsted inspection.
Wakefield avoids intervention over children's services
Wakefield Council should retain control of its children’s services, a commissioner has recommended.
Future Forum North: 'Get a grip on mysterious DCS role'
Local authority bosses should get a grip on the ‘mysterious’ director of children’s services [DCS] role, Wakefield City Council’s chief executive has urged.
Councils 'need to do better' on SEND provision
Ofsted has criticised councils over their provision for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) but praised local authorities for progress on children’s services.
Ofsted chief warns councils of county lines complacency
Some councils are underestimating the extent of the threat posed by county lines operations to children, the head of a watchdog has warned.
Extra commissioner planned for Northamptonshire
James Brokenshire is expected to appoint an extra commissioner to Northamptonshire CC after inspectors found deteriorating services were leaving vulnerable children at risk of harm.