Ofsted brands one in four councils inadequate on safeguarding

One in four councils has “inadequate” safeguarding children’s services, according to latest figures from Ofsted.

Of the 71 safeguarding and looked-after children’s services inspected between June 2009 and June this year, 18 received Ofsted’s lowest mark for the overall effectiveness of safeguarding. 

Just one council was awarded the highest mark of “outstanding” for the overall effectiveness of its safeguarding children’s services.

In terms of looked-after children’s services, two councils were judged to be inadequate over the period and none achieved a verdict of outstanding.

The most common judgment was “adequate”, awarded to 33 councils for safeguarding services and to 39 for their looked-after children services.

This is the first time Ofsted has released inspection results data on a quarterly basis. The latest figures also include the results of unannounced inspections.

Three of the 122 children’s services to receive an unannounced inspection between August last year and June this year were judged to have at least one area of priority action, the most damning verdict inspectors can give after unannounced visits.

 

In November, Ofsted will release its annual report with further analysis of its inspections.