Today we published updates to our inspection of local authority children’s services (ILACS) framework. These changes will apply to inspections and visits from 1 April 2026. Removing the overall effectiveness judgement We have carried out our commitment to removing the …
Applying to register a children’s home is a serious step. It is right that there are exacting standards to meet, but we want the process to work well. The following hints and tips should help you with a smoother application. …
Last month Ofsted submitted its response to the government’s consultation Stable Homes, Built on Love. I am sure many of you did the same. There’s a lot in the proposals that we welcome. With additional resources and a sharp focus on …
The research referred to in this blog, ‘good decisions: children with complex needs in children's homes’, was published in January 2024. In the autumn, we will publish a research project on children with complex needs who live in children’s homes. …
As we begin another Foster Care Fortnight, I want to again offer our rightful appreciation to the people providing incredible yet often unremarked-on foster care to tens of thousands of children every year. Fostering a child is an incredibly generous and selfless thing to do even in the best of circumstances. But in the tough …
From April 2023, we will be carrying out annual assurance inspections of secure training centres (STCs). These will be in addition to the full annual inspections we do with Care Quality Commission and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons. Since 2016, our full inspections …
Every year we run 'point-in-time' surveys for about 6 weeks in February and March. Your responses to these online questionnaires help us decide who and when to inspect. The information also helps us consider what to focus on and ask …
2022 saw the publication of several reviews looking at the children’s social care sector. The Care Review, the Competition and Markets Authority market study, and the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel all made major recommendations for reform. In our own …
We’re fast approaching the time when we can accept applications to register as supported accommodation providers. This is a whole new area of work for Ofsted, providing important regulatory safeguards for children. Over the last year, we’ve been busy getting ready – recruiting inspectors, developing our registration guidance (due to be published soon), and planning …
There is a growing need for highly specialist homes that can provide good quality, nurturing care for children with multiple and complex needs. In some cases, these are children who are deprived of their liberty, Many have mental health needs …
Strong leadership and a stable workforce are fundamental for children’s homes to thrive. We know that there are many committed leaders and staff delivering excellent care across children’s residential care. However, we know that high levels of staff turnover and …