Quarter of children's services now rated outstanding by Ofsted

A quarter of English councils are now rated outstanding by Ofsted for the overall effectiveness of their children's services, a Community Care analysis has found.

As of today, 39 of the 153 authorities (25%) are top graded, with the proportion of outstanding-rated authorities having doubled since 2021, when the figure stood at 13%, according to Ofsted data.

While the rate had climbed to 20% by March 2024, it has risen significantly since then, with outstanding overall grades awarded to 10 out of the 23 councils (44%) inspected this year who have had their reports published.

By comparison, 17 of the 48 authorities (35%) inspected last year were top rated, as were eight of the 43 (19%) visited by Ofsted in 2023, as part of its inspecting local authority services for children (ILACS) programme.

Of the 10 authorities inspected this year with an outstanding rating, six - Dorset, Durham, Richmond, Shropshire, Walsall and York - improved on their previous inspection result.

While five of these authorities were previously rated good, York jumped two grades from requires improvement, after inspectors found that "a relentless drive by senior leaders has led to significant improvements, on a considerable scale, in the standard and quality of services to children".

Regional concentration of 'outstanding' councils

Half of the 39 outstanding-rated authorities are concentrated in just two of the nine English regions - London and the North East - where over 40% of councils of constituent authorities hold a top grade for overall effectiveness.

By contrast, none of the 24 councils in North West currently has an outstanding rating.

A third of authorities rated outstanding overall (Bromley, Camden, Derby, Essex, Islington, Kingston, North Lincolnshire, North Tyneside, North Yorkshire, Redbridge, Thurrock, Westminster and York) also received the top grade in all the sub-categories they were judged in at their last inspection.

These are the impact of leaders on social work practice and the experiences and progress of children who need help and protection, children in care and care leavers, respectively. The latter two were grouped into one judgment prior to 2023.

Sharp fall in number of councils rated requires improvement

Alongside the rise in the proportion of top-rated councils, there has been an increase in the percentage rated good or outstanding, from 60% in March 2024 to 68% now. In 2021, this figure was just over half (51%).

The proportion rated requires improvement has fallen significantly over this time, from 36% in 2021, to 28% in 2024 and just 20% now.

However, there has been little change in the proportion rated inadequate, which stood at 13% in 2021, 11% in 2024 and 12% now, though the composition of this group has changed over time.

In response to the figures, Ofsted's director of social care, Yvette Stanley said: "We have said before that inspection results for local authorities are improving, and that is a good thing for children. We are committed to continue to work with local authorities to ensure that all children receive the help, protection and care they deserve."

The Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) also welcomed the figures.

“There is a strong and improving picture of Ofsted judgements across the country, including a degree of consistency in reports of strong practice, which our long-established sector-led improvement and peer challenge efforts contribute towards," said the ADCS's standards, performance and inspection policy committee chair, Jo Fisher.

“Increasingly the sector is involved in...improvement work, with stronger performing local authorities supporting those in difficulty. This compares to a decade ago, when the solution was seen as being the removal of children’s services altogether via a trust, or partnership with the private sector.”