Swindon Borough Council’s Children’s Services is set to receive recognition for its steady progress when the Council’s Cabinet meets next week on 11th December. Councillors will discuss a series of positive developments that have been highlighted by three recent monitoring visits from Ofsted inspectors. This follows the department’s ‘inadequate’ rating last year, marking a significant step forward on its improvement journey.
Councillor Paul Dixon, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, will present the outcomes of these visits, which took place in May and October, and share positive feedback from inspectors. Key improvements include better support for care-experienced young people, a more stable workforce with most staff now employed permanently, and stronger partnerships within the Council’s corporate framework.
The inspections noted that the children’s commissioning team has made strides in identifying and addressing gaps in service provision.
Inspectors also commended greater management oversight of child protection plans and key decision points, stating that this is beginning to ensure children receive support that meets their needs and reduces risks. “Senior leaders are determined to improve services for vulnerable children in Swindon,” they added, recognising the positive engagement of both political and corporate leaders in driving the department’s progress.
The Cabinet meeting will also address how recommendations from Ofsted’s monitoring visits are incorporated into updated service improvement plans. These plans undergo regular review and are scrutinised by the Children’s and Adults’ Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Children’s Services Improvement Board, which is chaired independently to provide effective governance and oversight.
Councillor Dixon emphasised the ongoing commitment to improvement, saying: “I am really pleased we are continuing to see steady progress in Children’s Services and that Ofsted has recognised all the hard work that is going on to keep us on this improvement journey.
“We know there is more we have to do to improve practice, but we are committed to providing the services children and families in Swindon deserve.”
Further Ofsted monitoring visits are planned every four to six months until the next full inspection, expected in Spring 2026. Swindon’s leaders are optimistic that the continued progress will lead to better outcomes for the borough’s children and families.
