Ofsted has found that within children's services in Cheshire East "senior leaders have appropriate plans in place to further develop and embed improvements".
A monitoring visit focused on children in need and child protection, was carried out in June. This was the second monitoring visit since the local authority was judged inadequate in March 2024.
It builds on the findings of the first monitoring visit in February 2025, which recognised that progress had accelerated.
Areas covered by the visit Inspectors reviewed the progress made in the following areas of concern identified at the last inspection:
◼ Arrangements for children in need and those subject to a child protection plan, including disabled children.
◼ Senior leaders' oversight of performance, to ensure that there is a coherent approach to continuous improvement.
◼ The quality of management oversight and supervision.
The report stated "Following the inspection of children's services in 2024, the pace of change was too slow, and this led to a decline in practice in some areas. The first monitoring visit, of the front door in February 2025, recognised that progress had accelerated. The experienced interim senior leadership team, who had been in post since autumn 2024, were appropriately focused on making the necessary changes to improve the quality of social work practice. Nonetheless, senior leaders recognised that there was still a lot more to do.
"Since then, there have been significant changes in the senior leadership team. This includes the very recent appointment of a permanent assistant director and executive director for children's services. Appropriate transition arrangements are in place to mitigate the potential impact this will have on the wider workforce and the pace of change."
Ofsted inspectors found that improvements are being made in specific areas of practice such as the regularity of supervision and frequency of visits to children. Leaders have appropriate plans in place to further develop and embed improvements in practice.
Nevertheless, the quality of practice for children in need of help and protection, including disabled children, is inconsistent.
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."
