Surrey County Council (SCC) has received a favorable rating from Ofsted, which reported that the council has the “capacity to transform and improve services.” This evaluation presents itself as SCC moves forward with their targeted deep-dive intentionality to improve outcomes for children with high needs. The detailed unannounced inspection, which took place in March, looked deeply into SCC’s safeguarding practices and services for children in need.
Clare Curran, the cabinet secretary for children, families and lifelong learning, congratulated staff for their dedication. Their tireless and relentless advocacy has raised the bar profoundly in terms of the quality of services provided. According to the Ofsted report, most children and families in Surrey are now receiving the necessary help, protection, and care they require.
The inspection process was noted to be “really thorough,” with Ofsted diving deep into every detail of SCC’s operations. The report panel found many examples of good practice in safeguarding children, clearly demonstrating the council’s determination to prioritise children’s welfare. SCC are currently taking part in an independent safeguarding practice review. This short retrospective review begins with the recent tragic death of Sara, a 10-year-old girl who was discovered dead in Woking during August 2023. Sara had incurred life threatening injuries after years of physical abuse at the hands of her father and step-mother.
Curran further noted SCC’s deep commitment to doing right by children and families. He praised the council’s commitment to improving its approaches following previous episodes and shoring up its safeguarding procedures. The full, updated Ofsted report is available online for anyone keen to learn more about the emerging findings.
Emily Coady-Stemp and Jack Fiehn from the BBC wrote about this momentous step. Read their full report on BBC Radio Surrey and on BBC News, South East. Their continuing coverage addresses what these findings mean for influencing future policy and practice within SCC.
