On 21st August, OFSTED published their report into Suffolk County Council’s children’s services. The report found that three out of four areas ‘Requires improvement to be good’, and that the overall effectiveness also ‘Requires improvement to be good’.
It represents a backwards step from the last report, five years ago, which found children’s services to be ‘Oustanding’. The report found there were particular problems with regards to the consistency of children’s services, particularly for children who present as homeless and for care leavers.
I met with Suffolk County Council on the 21st August, after publication, to discuss the findings of the report, and offered them any support they needed to turn this situation around.
After the report was published, I released the following statement:
“The latest OFSTED report into Suffolk County Council’s children’s services is concerning.
“The report shows that services for vulnerable children have deteriorated over the past five years, and serious improvements are required right across the board.
“I have already met with Suffolk County Council to discuss the findings, and will work closely with them to turn this situation around. Our children in Suffolk need and deserve so much better than the findings of this report.”
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