Ofsted recognise continued progress in children’s services  

10 July 2025

Ofsted has found that within children’s services in Cheshire East “senior leaders have appropriate plans in place to further develop and embed improvements” following an inadequate inspection judgement last year.  

A monitoring visit focused on children in need and child protection, was carried out in June, and a letter has now been published summarising the findings. It builds on the findings of the first monitoring visit in February 2025, which recognised that progress had accelerated.  

Inspectors highlighted several areas of positive practice, including the regularity of staff supervision and the frequency of visits to children. For most children, child protection plans are well-targeted, regularly reviewed, and focused on reducing risk.  

Ofsted also commended the positive working culture within the council. Practitioners reported improved working conditions, a supportive environment, and a growing sense of team spirit. Their commitment to improving outcomes for children in Cheshire East was clearly recognised. 

The report also identified areas for further improvement. The quality of practice and supervision still needs to be strengthened to ensure that all children experience timely improvements. Additionally, child in need plans should be more specific, and contingency planning more robust.   

Councillor Laura Crane, chair of Cheshire East Council’s children and families committee, said: “The report demonstrates that there are clear areas we have improved since the inspection – such as the quality of plans, regularity of supervision, frequency of visits to children, challenge from child protection chairs, and support in pre-proceedings.  

“We know there’s still more to do to ensure all our practice is consistently strong, but we’re on the right path and have the right plans in place. Our children in Cheshire East deserve the very best, and we are determined to deliver that.” 

As part of its ongoing improvement journey, Cheshire East Council is actively recruiting passionate and skilled children’s social workers. The council is seeking permanent staff to fill key roles in children’s services, helping to address national shortages and make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families.