Ealing Council’s children’s services get ‘good’ ofsted rating – EALING.NEWS – The Voice of Ealing 7 towns

Ofsted inspectors rated children’s services in Ealing as ‘good’ overall in their latest report, following a previous finding that it ‘requires improvement’ in 2019.

The inspection, which took place between 22 April 2024 and 3 May 2024, saw the council assessed across a range of areas and the quality of services provided to support children and was rated ‘good’ in four out of five areas of judgment Ofsted with ‘The experience and progress of children who need help and protection’ being rated as ‘requires improvement to be good’.

In its report, inspectors said: “Children’s services in Ealing have been strengthened since the last Ofsted inspection in 2019, when they were found to require improvement across the board.

“Corporate leaders, including the leader of the board, the chief executive and the director of children’s services, share a determination to continuously improve the quality of services provided to children and their families.

“There has been a concerted effort to drive standards of performance and practice in children’s services. Recent developments include the creation of a dedicated assessment team and the successful engagement of partner agencies, including health and housing, to deliver targeted services to vulnerable children in the borough.”

The report also highlighted a number of areas that still need improvement.

Leader of Ealing Council, Peter Mason, said: “This is a hugely positive achievement for our children’s services and reflects our continued determination to ensure that every child and young person in Ealing has the right start to a happy and healthy life .

“I am particularly proud that the inspectors highlighted the achievements of our care graduates, highlighting the impressive number of them going on to university and further education. We take our responsibility as corporate parents to children and young people in care very seriously. It is really encouraging that so many of them have spoken so positively to inspectors about the care and support they have received and that unaccompanied children seeking asylum are warmly welcomed and quickly made to feel safe and supported .”

Josh Blacker, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for a fairer start added: “I would like to thank everyone involved in our children’s services for their hard work and determination to give children and young people the best possible start. We know there is more work to do and we have plans in place to ensure every child gets the best possible support.”