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Solihull Children's Services Earn "Good" Rating Post-Scrutiny
12 Jan
Summary
- Solihull children's services achieved a "good" Ofsted rating for the first time.
- This improvement follows an inadequate rating in 2022 after Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' death.
- Inspectors noted areas needing further strengthening in care and permanence planning.
Solihull Council's children's services have been rated "good" by Ofsted for the first time, marking a significant turnaround. This positive assessment comes after a previous "inadequate" rating in 2022, which led to intense scrutiny following the death of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. Inspectors acknowledged the demonstrable progress made by leaders since the last inspection, noting their clear commitment to further improvement.
Despite the "good" rating, Ofsted identified specific areas where practice needs to be consistently stronger. These include permanence planning, care planning, and ensuring children's voices are systematically used. The report also pointed out that while most children live in stable, nurturing homes, a small number still experience unplanned or crisis entries into care due to insufficiently robust preventative work.
Council leaders stated their commitment to continued improvement, emphasizing that children and young people are central to their work. The authority aims to build on this success and ensure young people can thrive, acknowledging that ongoing effort is necessary to fully address all identified areas for development.
