Local authority leaders have welcomed new figures that reveal a marked improvement in children’s services but warn many are being ‘pushed to the brink’ by cuts.
The latest children’s social care data in England for 2017/18 from Ofsted shows that the percentage of local authority children’s services rated good or outstanding for overall effectiveness has risen from 36% in 31 October 2017 to 38% in 31 March 2018.
The proportion judged inadequate has dropped from 19% to 15%.
‘Protecting children and helping them to get the very best in life is one of the most important things that councils do and it is positive that the proportion of children’s services departments rated good or outstanding has increased,’ said Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, chair of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Children and Young People Board.
However, Cllr Bramble warned many are ‘being pushed to the brink by unprecedented demand and increasing financial pressures’.
‘Councils have pulled out all the stops to protect children’s budgets but are now being forced to cut funding for vital services such as early intervention support, leaving some children having to reach crisis point before they get help,’ she said.
‘The funding the LGA has received from Government to improve children’s services and deliver a programme of sector-led support to councils will provide a number of benefits such as sharing good practice and expertise.
‘But this alone will not plug the funding gap facing children’s services, which will reach £3bn by 2025. If Government is serious about protecting and support children, they need to provide the funding needed.’
