Merton Council children’s services have once again been rated Outstanding by Ofsted, maintaining the standard first awarded in February 2022.
This achievement places Merton among a select group of local authorities nationwide to sustain the outstanding overall rating in children’s social care. It comes just a few months after every school in the borough achieved ‘Good or Better’ judgements from Ofsted.
Ofsted inspectors highlighted several strengths, including:
Putting children at the centre of service delivery: Inspectors remarked that the voices of young people are heard and acted upon to improve social care services.
Strong leadership and collaboration: There have been changes at a senior level, and services have remained strong, with leaders, and partners working hand-in-hand to provide the best support possible for children and families known to Social Care..
Continually improving our support: Since 2022, the service has acted on feedback, introducing better out-of-hours support and stronger housing support for care leavers.
Councillor Ross Garrod, Leader of Merton Council, said:
“With our children’s services being rated Outstanding, as well as the recent Good rating for our adult social care services, it’s no wonder that The Times recently named Merton as one of the top four places to live in the UK.
“But this rating is not the finish line. With some of the best children’s services in the country, 100% of our schools being rated Good or Better, exam results consistently exceeding the national average, and initiatives such as the Borough of Sport providing access to all through opportunities such as free swimming for under 16s – we are well on our way to making Merton the best places in London to grow up. We will continue working hard to put children, their learning, their life, and their families at the heart of all we do.”
Councillor Usaama Kaweesa, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:
“We’re very proud that Merton’s children’s services have retained their Outstanding rating from Ofsted. This achievement reflects the unwavering commitment of council staff, our partners, and local volunteers to putting local children and families first and making sure they are getting the right care and support, when they need it.
“This rating is a clear vote of confidence in our children’s services. Inspectors saw what we already knew: that the voices of children are at the heart of everything we do and that we act early to support families and prevent harm, not just respond to crisis.
“We are proud of this recognition, and committed to continually improving, so that Merton will always be a place where children are safe, supported, and able to fulfil their potential.”
Inspectors noted Merton ensures children get the right help at the right time, whether it’s early help, urgent protection, out-of-hours support. They also praised our tailored support offer for those with disabilities, caring responsibilities and children facing homelessness.
Merton’s social workers were found to act quickly and collaborate to protect children, alongside building strong, stable relationships with children and families: getting to know them, listening to their concerns, and supporting their health, education, and wellbeing.
In a letter to the council, Yvette Stanley, National Director Regulation and Social Care at Ofsted, said:
“This is a magnificent achievement and one which I personally wanted to acknowledge.
“Your “outstanding” inspection outcome reflects the continued determination of your leadership team, managers and frontline staff, as well as the wider council and your safeguarding partners.
“You should all be proud of the sustained positive difference you have made for the children and families of Merton over time.”
- The full report is available to read here.