The Committee will receive a report on the Ofsted Inspection of Reading’s Local Authority Children’s Services.
Minutes:
The Committee received a report that provided information on the Ofsted Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS). A copy of the Ofsted Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services Report was attached to the report at Appendix 1.
The report explained that Reading’s children’s services were last inspected, as Brighter Futures for Children, in September 2019 and upgraded from inadequate (in 2016) to ‘requires improvement to be good’. In April 2024 the Council’s Children’s Services, delivered by Brighter Futures for Children, were inspected over three weeks, the first week being offsite and the second two weeks on site at the Civic Offices and other sites in Reading.
It was reported that the inspectors:
The final report was published on 12 July 2024 with the following judgements:
Judgement |
2024 Grade |
2019 Grade |
Overall effectiveness |
Requires Improvement to be Good |
Requires Improvement to be Good |
The experiences and progress of children who need help and protection |
Requires Improvement to be Good |
Requires Improvement to be Good |
The experiences and progress of children in care |
Good |
Requires Improvement to be Good |
The experiences and progress of care leavers |
Good |
Not a separate grade in the 2019 inspection framework |
The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families |
Requires Improvement to be Good |
Requires Improvement to be Good |
The report set out several strengths and areas for improvement. At the time of the inspection work was, and remained, underway to build on strengths and address areas of improvement through the delivery of Brighter Futures for Children’s Continuous Improvement Plan and Transformation Programme. The report noted that ‘the transformation plan addresses the right priorities and there is a clear vision for the delivery of services. Some progress is already evident and senior leaders have a good understanding of the improvements that have yet to be achieved.’
An action plan in response to the recommendations was required to be submitted to Ofsted by 21 October 2024.
Resolved –
(1) That the ILACS report be noted;
(2) That the actions taken to date be noted;
(3) That the Executive Director for Children’s Services be given delegated authority to submit the required action plan to Ofsted in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Children’s Services and Chief Executive of the Council, be approved.
Supporting documents: