A third of care leavers say they left care before they were ready
More than a third of care leavers feel they left care too early, a new survey has revealed today.
Council chiefs welcome new measures to improve children's social care
Local authority leaders have welcomed new measures aimed at stopping poor quality supported accommodation providers and rooting out bad practice.
Schools show improvement despite pandemic, Ofsted finds
Schools across the UK have shown signs of improvement despite the impact of the pandemic, school inspectors say.
Spielman: No silver bullet for children's social care
Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman has warned there is no 'silver bullet' to the long-term problems in the children's social care sector.
Council pledges to support children after services rated 'inadequate'
The leadership of North East Lincolnshire Council has pledged to protect and support young people after the local authority's children's services were judged 'inadequate'.
Ofsted to inspect all schools by summer 2025
All schools and colleges will be inspected by Ofsted by summer 2025 to determine how education is recovering from the pandemic.
Figures paint 'bleak picture' of foster care
A lack of foster carers means vulnerable children are not getting the support they need, Ofsted has warned.
SEND children being left behind by council
Children with special educational needs are being left behind by council services across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, inspectors have found.
Children's services in Sunderland leap from Inadequate to Outstanding
Children's services in Sunderland, delivered by Together for Children, are the first in the country to make the leap from Inadequate to Outstanding.
Ofsted publishes new guidance for confronting sexual abuse
Ofsted has published updated education inspection handbooks, clarifying how inspectors will assess how schools and colleges confront sexual harassment, abuse and violence among children and young people.
Most children in care feel safe where they live
A new survey has found that while the majority of children in social care settings are happy where they live, nearly one in 20 regularly feel unsafe.
Sexual harassment 'normalised' for children, Ofsted warns
Sexual harassment, including online sexual abuse, has become 'normalised' for children and young people, Ofsted has found.
Council chiefs call for review of SEND system to be completed 'urgently'
Council leaders have called on Government to 'urgently complete' its review of the SEND system and to ensure councils have funding to support SEND children.
Ofsted to visit schools facing sexual abuse allegations
Ofsted has announced it will visit a sample of schools and colleges in England where sexual abuse claims have been made.
West Sussex to keep control of children's services for at least 12 months
West Sussex County Council will keep control of its children's services for at least another year following improvements made, the Department for Education (DfE) has said.
Pandemic made vulnerable children 'invisible' report warns
Vulnerable children became 'invisible' during the pandemic, Ofsted's chief inspector warned today.
Capacity in foster care is stalling, data reveals
The number of applications to become a foster carer has fallen by 10% since March last year, new data has revealed.
Ofsted warns of COVID impact on SEND support
The pandemic has 'seriously affected' support for special educational needs an disabilities (SEND), according to Ofsted.
Spike in child abuse since pandemic
Ofsted's chief inspector has warned of an increase in the number of child injuries and deaths uncovered by local authorities since the onset of the pandemic.
Local areas to get extra support to strengthen SEND services
Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) will visit local areas to help them improve their SEND services following the disruption caused by COVID-19.
Middlesbrough to keep control of its children's services
Middlesbrough Council will be allowed to keep control of its 'inadequate' children's services to allow further improvements to be made.
MPs tell department to 'get a grip' on SEND
The Department for Education (DfE) does not have a grip on mounting pressure in the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system, a watchdog has found.
Devon CC's children's services criticised for 'serious failures'
Ofsted has found 'serious failures' in services for young people in Devon as they discovered a minority of care leavers had been living in tents.
Yorkshire council criticises Ofsted rating based on 'short inspection visit'
A local authority in Yorkshire has said it is 'disappointed' by an Ofsted rating of its children's social care services which concluded they were 'inadequate'.
Council first outside London to transform flagging children's services to 'outstanding'
A Midlands council has become the first outside of London to transform children's services from 'requires improvement to be good' to 'outstanding'.
Council announces £4.4m for 'significantly declined' children's services
Hull City Council has announced a series of measures to improve children's services after Ofsted concluded that the experiences of children in care had 'significantly declined.'
Councils sent back to drawing board on SEND
Councils have been sent back to the drawing board after a quango ripped apart their plans to recover massive special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) deficits.
Plans for 'universal' school inspections launched
Ofsted will visit all schools judged to be outstanding within the next five academic years, the Government has announced.
'Stuck' schools need more tailored support, inspectors say
Hundreds of schools in England are 'stuck' in a cycle of low performance and need more tailored support to improve, a new Ofsted report has found.
School league tables 'misrepresent' performance, northern leaders say
Secondary school league tables misrepresent performance by failing to show the difference when pupil background is taken into account, northern leaders say.
Reading's children's services improvement 'huge achievement'
A council-owned company has moved Reading's children's services out of its 'inadequate' Ofsted rating.
Council to re-direct £5.5m to 'inadequate' children's services
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has approved plans to invest £5.5m into its children's services following an 'inadequate' rating from Ofsted earlier this year.
Children with special educational needs home schooled 'as last resort'
Parents of SEN children often home school their kids as a last resort rather than a preferred choice, a new Ofsted report has revealed.
Six councils conned into spending thousands of pounds on illegal school
Six local authorities were duped into paying thousands of pounds to educate vulnerable children in an unsafe illegal school.
Labour pledges to scrap 'unfit for purpose' Ofsted
Labour has vowed to scrap Ofsted and replace it with regular 'health checks' led by local government.
New measures to improve underperforming schools
A new specialist academy trust to take on and turn around the most challenging schools will be launched by the Government.
Commissioner appointed to oversee council's 'inadequate' children's services
The Government has appointed a commissioner to improve Medway Council's children's services after Ofsted rated them 'inadequate'.
'Slow progress' two years after inadequate judgement
Gloucestershire CC is making 'slow progress' in improving its services for its children and young people two years after it was judged inadequate, Ofsted has found.
Council schools get better Ofsted ratings than academies, report finds
Council-maintained schools are more likely to remain 'good' or 'outstanding' than their academy counterparts, new research suggests.
Suffolk CC's children's services awarded 'outstanding'
Ofsted inspectors have awarded children's services at Suffolk County Council the top grade of 'outstanding'.
Hull council commits £2m to improve 'inadequate' children's services
Hull CC has promised to 'accelerate' its improvement plans and invest an extra £2m into its children's services after they were rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted.
New school inspections framework to discourage 'teaching to the test'
Teachers have welcomed Ofsted's new inspection framework which pledges to focus on curriculum, behaviour and development rather than on test results.
Schools 'fear-monger' to remove pupils, survey finds
Teachers have told Ofsted that they want to see more support for parents to help them push back against the practice of 'off-rolling'.
Ofsted to retain grading system in new inspection framework
Ofsted has decided to retain its current 4-point grading system when it launches its new inspection framework in September.
Call for inspection pause in case of Brexit hit
Council chiefs have urged Whitehall to be ready to ease pressures on the sector for up to six months if Brexit threatens to stretch capacity.
Children 'not being protected' by Stoke-on-Trent Council
Children's social care services are 'inadequate' at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, according to the findings of a new Ofsted inspection.
Education watchdog calls time on 'teaching to the test'
Ofsted says it is moving away from its focus on performance data as the watchdog launches a consultation on proposals for changes to its inspection framework.
Bromley children's services undergo 'remarkable' improvements
Bromley council are 'extremely proud' after Ofsted rated their children's services, which were 'inadequate' two years ago, 'good' with 'outstanding' leadership.
Wakefield avoids intervention over children's services
Wakefield Council should retain control of its children's services, a commissioner has recommended.
Nearly 500 underperforming schools 'betrayal of children's futures.'
The chief inspector of Ofsted has warned that the existence of nearly 500 'stuck' schools is 'nothing short of a scandal.'
Birmingham 'lacks' leadership on SEND issues
Birmingham City Council has said it is 'very disappointed' by the results of a special educational needs and disabilities inspection and said it would take urgent action to make 'significant improvements'.
Ofsted 'fig leaf' for Whitehall failures on school standards
Ofsted is not providing the level of independent assurance about the quality of education that schools and parents need, MPs warn.
Thousands of children in care where councils are providing failing services, warns report
Politicians have been accused of ignoring a 'silent crisis' of substandard care for children who are later facing social and economic problems in their adult lives.
An 'outstanding' example for children's services
A county in the north of England provides a shining example of how to run children's care services, writes Mark Whitehead.
Inspectors praise Peterborough's 'thriving' children's services
Inspectors have praised Peterborough City Council for creating the conditions for the city's children's services 'to thrive'.
County first to be rated 'outstanding' in all areas of children's social care
North Yorkshire County Council has become the first authority to receive an 'outstanding' grade in every category under the new social care inspection framework.
Wakefield prepare for full Ofsted inspection
Ofsted will carry out a full inspection of Wakefield's children's services after they were rated 'requiring improvement' two years ago.
Ofsted criticised for not offering 'value for money'
Ofsted has struggled to meet its inspection targets due to 'significant' financial and staffing challenges, auditors say.
Children's services blow for new chiefs
Surrey CC's children's services are still inadequate, according to Ofsted – three years after they received the same grade.
Whitehall announces decision to 'simplify' school assessment system
Head teachers have welcomed the Government's decision to 'simplify' the system by which schools performance is assessed.
Council's children's services remain 'inadequate', inspectors say
A re-inspection of Sandwell Council's children's services found they remain 'inadequate' ahead of the launch of the council's new Children's Trust.
Rotherham's children's services rated 'good' in dramatic turnaround
Rotherham Council's children's services have been rated as 'good' by Ofsted, following three years of Government intervention in the aftermath of the child sexual exploitation scandal.
Nearly 1,000 children's centres not inspected for five years
The Government has been accused of dragging its feet over inspections of children's centres, which have been frozen since 2015.
Children's services in Norfolk no longer need intervention
Norfolk County Council's beleaguered children's services no longer require intervention after Ofsted found the council has now improved.
Inspectors find improvements in Birmingham's children's services
Birmingham City Council is continuing to make progress with improving the quality of social work, inspectors have announced.
Worcestershire's children's services showing 'tangible' signs of progress, inspectors say
Worcestershire children's services are showing 'tangible' signs of improvement but require 'further progress', inspectors say.
Ofsted inspection reforms could create 'uncertainty', head teachers warn
A teachers union has lashed out at Ofsted's proposals to change the short inspection process, saying it will create a 'cloud of uncertainty' in schools.
Dealing with large-scale abuse claims
In the first of a two part review of claims against local authority social services departments, Kella Bowers and Andrew Ellis consider the effects of claims alleging a failure to protect children from child sexual exploitation and abuse in care.
Watchdog finds 'widespread and serious' failiures in children's services in Croydon
Croydon Council has failed to improve children's services quickly enough, according to a damning report from Ofsted.
Adult training company described as 'inadequate' by Ofsted
The UK's largest provider of adult training and apprenticeships has been described as 'inadequate' by Ofsted, sparking speculation about the company's future.
Ofsted report raises serious concerns over leadership at Gloucestershire
Children's services at Gloucestershire County Council have been rated inadequate by Ofsted.
Inspections to assess local protection of 'at risk' children announced
A new set of inspections to examine how local partner agencies - including local authorities - are working together to protect children at risk of neglect will begin next month.
Sunderland completes transfer of children's services to new company
A new company to deliver children's services has been set up by Sunderland City Council following an 'inadequate' rating by Ofsted back in July 2015.
Ofsted announces new social care common inspection framework
Ofsted today announced a new social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) will take effect this April in order to create a more consistent inspections regime.
Worcestershire criticised for 'serious failures' in children's services
Worcestershire County Council has apologised after inspectors found 'widespread and serious failures' in its children's services.
Government 'complacent' over child protection issues warn MPs
The Government has been accused of being too slow to improve child protection services, a report from MPs has warned today.
Birmingham pledges to turnaround 'inadequate' children's services
The new chair of Birmingham City Council's children's trust has insisted that the new model will deliver 'accelerated' change as inspectors highlighted continued failings within the authority.
Information-sharing agreement to improve children's services
A new information-sharing agreement looks set to improve children's care services across England.
Council hits back at 'damning' Ofsted report
Swindon council has hit back at claims children are being 'failed' after Ofsted publish a damning open letter about 'poor performance' in the city's schools.
Ofsted chief accuses some police forces of failing on child protection
The chief inspector of Ofsted has criticised police forces for failing to protect children from abuse.
Ofsted chairman quits over 'offensive' remarks
The Ofsted chairman has quit his position after describing the Isle of Wight as an 'inbred, poor, white ghetto'.
Inspections launched into councils' approach to domestic abuse
New inspections will investigate how well local partners, including councils, work together to protect children living with domestic abuse.
Ofsted chair apologises for 'inbred white ghetto' comment
Ofsted's chairman has apologised and retracted his description of the Isle of Wight as an 'inbred, poor, white ghetto'.
Amanda Spielman appointed next chief inspector at Ofsted
Amanda Spielman has been officially confirmed as Ofsted's next chief inspector, despite a cross-party group of MPs trying to block her appointment.
Ofsted: Councils failing to protect vulnerable children missing from education
Birmingham, Bradford and Luton are unable to protect children missing from education from harm, exploitation or extremist ideologies, Ofsted warn.
MPs reject choice for Ofsted's new head
The government's preferred candidate to head up Ofsted should not be given the role, a committee of MPs has said.
Weak leadership is letting children down says Ofsted
Vulnerable children are being let down by weak leadership in too many local authorities, inspectors have claimed.
Cornwall praised for turning around children's services
Cornwall Council has achieved a radical turnaround of its children's services.
Sandwell children's services facing move to voluntary trust
Children's social care services at Sandwell Council could be transferred to a voluntary trust, after being rated as 'inadequate' by inspectors last year.
Schools inspector blames 'complacency' for education failures in East Midlands
Thousands of children in the East Midlands are being exposed to poor standards in education, according to the schools watchdog.
Ofsted identifies 100 illegal schools in England
Councils must play their part in identifying illegal schools which may be promoting radicalism and extremism, the chief inspector has demanded.
Local authority schools outperform academies, says research
Council-run schools are outperforming academies in Oftsed inspections, research from the Local Government Association (LGA) has revealed.
Poor children more likely to go to failing schools finds research
Families are on low incomes are four times more likely than wealthier families to send their child to a struggling primary school, new research has revealed.
Council's children's services 'inadequate', Ofsted warn
A council's children's services are suffering from 'serious and widespread failures', says Ofsted report.
'Serious weaknesses' at seven multi-academy trusts highlighted
Many multi-academy trusts (MATs) have been manifesting the 'same weaknesses as the worst-performing local authorities', the chief inspector of schools has warned.
Inspections of children's services 'not working' say council leaders
Inspections of failing children's homes by Ofsted only make their problems worse, local government leaders have claimed.
Plans to convert coasting schools passed through Parliament
New measures to force councils to convert failing schools into academies have been passed through Parliament.
Report reveals confusion over role of regional schools commissioners
Regional schools commissioners (RSCs) are too detached from councils, schools and communities to effectively monitor the progress of academies, MPs have warned.
Thousands of new school places created in failing schools
More than 100,000 new school places have been created in schools that are already failing, research from the New Schools Network has revealed.
Rise in number of children missing from foster care warns report
The number of children going missing from foster care rose by almost a fifth in the last year, according to the latest report from Ofsted.