Title

OFSTED

Boarding home closures prompt council response

Councils have been called on to help accommodate children with special educational needs after two boarding homes had their registrations suspended following critical inspections.

Councils have been called on to help accommodate children with special educational needs after two boarding homes had their registrations suspended following critical inspections.

The MJ has learned that homes for Kisimul Woodstock House School in Surrey and Fullerton House School in Doncaster must rehouse scores of children affected by sudden Ofsted suspensions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During an emergency inspection of Woodstock House in February amid fears children were at risk, Ofsted inspectors uncovered poor record-keeping over alleged bullying, a lack of staff training and disruptive staff turnover, and warned ‘systems and procedures to safeguard the welfare, health and safety of pupils and staff' were ‘not strong enough'.

Concerns have also been identified at the Fullerton House School children's home, run by Hesley Group, which was the subject of a recent complaint.

An Ofsted spokesperson said: ‘We will continue to monitor these homes closely, working with all agencies involved.'

OFSTED

LGR's shadow over children's welfare

By Ann McGauran | 08 July 2026

As the sector’s children’s services chiefs gather at their annual conference in Manchester, Colin Foster talks to Ann McGauran about the workforce implicatio...

OFSTED

Breaking point: Tough choices for childrens' services

By Martin Ford | 06 May 2026

Governments are finally confronting the spiralling cost of children’s services. As pressures intensify and budgets buckle, the real question is no longer whe...

OFSTED

The Top 10 councils powering ahead on productivity

By Ann McGauran | 05 February 2026

Local government’s leadership may be dealing with a maelstrom of challenges, but the councils whose productivity performance has earned them a place in the I...

OFSTED

A system for success

By Heather Jameson | 23 December 2025

Luton Council’s bold 2040 vision prioritises jobs, homes and safety. Heather Jameson talks to chief executive Mark Fowler about taking a systems-based approa...

Popular articles by Mark Conrad