York’s Children’s Services Rated Outstanding by Ofsted
In a recent inspection conducted by independent inspectors Ofsted, the services for children and young people in York have been rated as Outstanding in all areas. This achievement is a significant improvement from the previous inspection in 2022, where each of the areas inspected were rated as Requires Improvement.
The inspectors reviewed four key areas of the council’s work, including how it supports children who need help and protection, children in care, care leavers, and leadership. Each area was rated as Outstanding, resulting in an overall rating of Outstanding for York’s Children’s Services. This puts York in the top seven per cent of local authorities’ children’s services in the country.
The inspectors attributed this significant improvement to the “relentless drive by senior leaders” and the council’s commitment to putting children first. They also recognized the council’s ambition and determination to provide outstanding services, creating an environment for improvement.
The council’s commitment to recruiting and maintaining a stable workforce was also praised, noting that it created good experiences and progress for children. The inspectors also commended the council’s efforts to ensure that children’s views and feelings are central to decisions made for them, and that they are supported to remain within their wider family networks whenever possible.
Cllr Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council, expressed her delight at this recognition and paid tribute to the leadership of Cllr Webb, Martin Kelly as Corporate Director, and the ongoing hard work of all Children’s Services staff. She stated, “This judgment shows that everyone being aligned, with a shared commitment to do the best for children and young people in York, is resulting in improved services and I couldn’t be happier.”
Cllr Bob Webb, the council’s Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, added, “Our fantastic team in York is absolutely committed to achieving the best for every child, young person, and family they’re working with, and I’m delighted that the inspectors have recognized the exceptional quality of support they provide each and every day.”
Martin Kelly OBE, the council’s Corporate Director of Children and Young People, expressed his immense pride in the Children’s Services teams and their dedication to achieving the best outcomes for children, young people, and families in York. He also thanked their partners across the city for their support and collaboration in this achievement.
Yvette Stanley, Ofsted’s National Director for Regulation and Social Care, praised the determination and hard work of all those working across York to make a positive difference for children and their families. She stated, “It is a rare achievement to move from a judgement of requires improvement to outstanding in all areas, and it was a pleasure to hear about the team’s successes.”
The judgement places York with only ten other authorities in the country, all of which have achieved a rating of Outstanding in all areas for their Children’s Services. A copy of the full report is available on the City of York Council’s website.
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