The outcome of a crucial full inspection of Solihull Council’s children’s services is anticipated next week, according to council leader Karen Grinsell.
Solihull’s children’s services came under national scrutiny following the tragic 2020 death of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. In November 2022, an Ofsted inspection exposed “serious and widespread failings” and noted a significant decline in services compared to a previous inspection three years earlier.
This prompted the government to appoint commissioner Sir Alan Wood to guide Solihull Council through a challenging period. Upon his arrival, Wood identified a “sense of denial” but expressed confidence that the safety of children in the borough has since improved. Subsequent monitoring visits from Ofsted have shown major progress.
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At a recent meeting of the council’s children’s services and education scrutiny board, Karen Grinsell shared details of the October inspection: “The inspection was very thorough; inspectors were on site and spoke with many people, including children. I was the first to answer questions and it was a very good experience, providing a chance to showcase our improvements.”
Grinsell added that the council had received a draft report and the opportunity to respond, but the full Ofsted report is expected to be published next week. “Until then, we cannot provide further details,” she said.
Rasheed Pendry, the authority’s director of children’s services, commented, “We were pleased with the teamwork during the inspection and look forward to reviewing the report next week.”