Shropshire Fostering

Shropshire Council is celebrating a major achievement after Ofsted rated its children’s services as ‘outstanding’ following a recent inspection.

The report, published on Tuesday 12 August 2025, marks the highest possible rating across most areas of the service:

• The impact of leaders on social work practice – outstanding

• The experiences and progress of children who need help and protection – outstanding

• The experiences and progress of children in care – outstanding

• The experiences and progress of care leavers – good

• Overall effectiveness – outstanding

This marks a significant step forward from the previous overall ‘good’ rating in 2022 and reflects years of investment, improvement and dedication across the service.

Councillor Ruth Houghton, Cabinet Member for Social Care, said:

“We set out with a vision to bring love back into the system and it’s great to see that this has been demonstrated through our practice and commitment to the children and young people of Shropshire.

“Through everyone’s collective hard work and determination, we have not only demonstrated this vision in practice but have also achieved outstanding results.”

Inspectors praised the council’s child-centred ethos, strong leadership, and culture of ambition and continuous improvement. They highlighted the effectiveness of early help services, the quality of relationship-based practice and the support provided to children in care and care leavers.

Councillor Heather Kidd, Leader of Shropshire Council, added:

“Getting an ‘outstanding’ rating is fantastic news. It is a testament to the remarkable care and continued dedication our staff demonstrate to the children and young people we serve daily.”

The report recognised the contribution of foster carers, social workers, family support teams and multi-agency partners, including schools, health services and the voluntary sector.

To see the full Ofsted report, click HERE.