Ofsted
Ofsted: More to do to improve Birmingham's children's services
Birmingham City Council has ‘further work’ to do to improve its children’s services, an Ofsted monitoring visit has found.
Government backs sector-led improvement for children's services
The Department for Education (DfE) has signalled a major policy shift with a £20m investment for a new programme of sector-led improvement for children’s services.
Worcestershire's children’s services showing ‘tangible’ signs of progress, inspectors say
Worcestershire CC's children’s services are showing ‘tangible’ signs of improvement but require ‘further progress’, inspectors say.
Knowsley chief wins praise for turning around kids’ services
The independent chair of Knowsley MBC’s children’s services improvement board has praised the council’s chief executive for the turnaround achieved since an inadequate Ofsted rating.
Former Ofsted inspector moves to Walsall
Walsall MBC has appointed a new director of children’s services. Sally Rowe will join the council from Luton BC where she is the corporate director of people.
Brum praised for tackling illegal schools
Ofsted’s chief inspector has praised Birmingham City Council for working with the regulator to tackle illegal schools.
'Systemic and persistent' failures in council's children's services
Worcestershire CC has said it has invested an extra £5.1m into improving children’s social care this year after a damning report from a government commissioner.
Sector-led approach shows results for kids’ services
A new approach to sector-led improvement for children’s services could be announced next month, The MJ understands.
A new hope for children’s services?
At a crucial and at times troubling period for children’s services, and with new Ofsted leadership in place, Dan Peters looks at the current state of play as councils continue to grapple with inspection, improvement and, in some cases, intervention.
Rotherham wins back more control
Rotherham MBC has won back democratic control of all functions apart from children’s social care, the Government has confirmed.
Croydon scolded for children's services performance
Croydon LBC has failed to improve children’s services quickly enough, according to a damning report from Ofsted.
‘Effectiveness’ rating set for Ofsted inspections axe
Ofsted could drop its overall effectiveness ratings from its children’s services inspection reports, The MJ understands.
'Slow' progress council to create children's services company
Reading Council has announced plans to transfer its failing children’s services to a council-owned company after inspectors noted improvements were not happening fast enough.
Horwood gets interim MD role
Waverley BC has appointed an interim managing director and head of paid service.
Ofsted praises Norfolk’s improvements
Norfolk CC’s new children’s services leadership team has ‘maintained its momentum and is driving change with a real sense of urgency,’ Ofsted has found.
Spielman heralds new relationship with ADCS
Ofsted’s chief inspector has said she wants to ‘strengthen the relationship’ between her organisation and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS).
Power for good in an uncertain world
Six months into her term as Ofsted’s chief inspector, Amanda Spielman speaks about the watchdog’s role in children’s services improvement and offers some messages for those in the sector. Sam Clayden reports.
Ofsted chief counters ‘smash and grab’ claims
Ofsted’s chief inspector has defended the watchdog’s approach and the impact of negative judgements amid a cascade of criticisms from local authority bosses.
Ofsted criticises Reading for slow improvement
Reading BC is failing to improve its services to children and young people quickly enough, inspectors have reported.
A matter of trust
Steve Crocker and Chris Whitehouse explain how the Isle of Wight, through its partnership with neighbouring Hampshire CC, has delivered dramatic improvements to its formerly failing services for children - without the need for a trust.