Newham Children’s Services rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in all areas, praised for strong leadership, excellent support for children and care leavers, and relationship-based practice.
· Newham’s Children’s Services are outstanding across all areas, according to latest Ofsted report.
The report highlights how Newham children in need of help and protection, those in care, and care leavers receive excellent support and benefit from very stable relationships with their support workers who know them extremely well.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE said: “I am over the moon that we have achieved outstanding across all areas of the Ofsted inspection for our Children’s Services, the first time ever that Newham Council has met the coveted Ofsted gold standard. Building on the progress we made back in 2022 when Newham’s Children’s Services finally moved out of its ‘inadequate’ rating and were designated ‘good’, we are now one of only six local authorities in London officially recognised as outstanding in all areas by Ofsted.
“It’s a testament to our enduring commitment for Newham to be the best place for children and young people in our borough. Along with the excellent early years provision we offer, the top-ranking educational outcomes that our youngsters achieve and our nationally recognised youth empowerment service, today’s Ofsted outstanding ranking reflects our belief that our children and young people should be provided all opportunities and services that keep them healthy, happy and safe.
“It also reflects the passion of our committed and dedicated Children’s Services team, and I am proud of them very much today.”
Deputy Mayor Councillor Sarah Ruiz, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education & Sustainable Transport said: “I am thrilled with the improvement Children’s Services have made thanks to brilliant leadership.
“Being rated ‘Outstanding’ is an extraordinary achievement and a testament to every member of staff who continue to put our children and young people at the heart of everything we do in Newham.
“The whole team from leadership down through each member of staff has made this happen and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
The report highlights the services’ achievements:
· Offering effective early help and support for children and families when their needs are first identified.
· Building strong relationships with children, allowing them to make a real difference to their lives.
· Showing a deep understanding of the very diverse community which they serve.
The report says: “Children in Newham continue to benefit from consistently effective services that improve and enhance their experiences. Since the last inspection in 2022, when the overall effectiveness judgement was good, senior leaders have continued to strengthen and improve services to benefit children and their families.
It goes on: “When children are identified as being at risk, there is a very effective response to children. Equally, children in care and care leavers receive excellent support and benefit from very stable relationships with their workers who know them extremely well.
“The highly ambitious and accessible senior leadership team has driven high-quality, child-centred practice across all service areas. Clear strategic leadership, strong political support for children’s services, well-established partnerships and investment in the workforce have created positive working conditions that enable frontline practitioners to make a real difference to children’s lives.”
The Ofsted report also highlights that “Newham’s relationship-based model of practice, ‘Circles of Support’, is now fully embedded across all areas of the service. The positive culture of learning is a standout strength.”
It also references how “a standout feature is the impressive focus on children remaining within their kinship networks and ensuring that their voices are central to planning and decision-making.”
The Ofsted inspection took place in November 2025. The judgement shows an ‘outstanding’ rating in all areas: ‘the impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families’; ‘the experiences and progress of children who need help and protection’; ‘the experiences and progress of children in care’; ‘the experiences and progress of care leavers’, as well as ‘overall effectiveness’.
Ofsted found strong co-production with children and families. It references how “social work practice with children is relationship-based. Work with families reflects a collaborative ethos; children and their families are very well engaged and supported by professionals to participate at every stage.”
Laura Eden, Corporate Director of Children’s and Young People Services said: “I am delighted that our relational, innovative, and culturally competent services to children, young people and their families have been recognised by our regulator, Ofsted. We have strived to ensure every child, young person and family who needs additional support,
protection and care receives a high-quality service and we will continue to do so. I am grateful to our dedicated practitioners and managers who make a difference daily to the lives of children, young people, parents, carers and families.”
You can read the full report here
Photo courtesy of Imran Quayes
