Leeds City Council’s Children and Families Services has spectacularly achieved its third consecutive ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted, becoming the first of the UK’s core cities to reach this historic milestone. This remarkable achievement, overcoming a previous ‘inadequate’ rating in 2010, showcases their unwavering commitment to safeguarding and improving outcomes for children, care leavers, and families across Leeds through visionary leadership and robust partnerships.
What makes Leeds City Council’s Children and Families services outstanding according to Ofsted?
Leeds City Council’s Children and Families services achieved an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating for the third consecutive time due to visionary leadership, strong multi-agency partnerships, effective safeguarding, continual investment, and a culture focused on positive outcomes for children, care leavers, and families across all service areas.
Leeds Achieves Historic Ofsted Milestone
In a remarkable demonstration of consistent excellence, Leeds City Council’s Children and Families services have once again secured an ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted. This achievement marks Leeds as the first of the UK’s core cities – a group of twelve major metropolitan centers outside London – to receive the highest possible grading for three consecutive inspections. The latest announcement follows a rigorous evaluation that scrutinized the council’s support for children in need of help and protection, as well as those in care and care leavers.
The journey to this accolade has been noteworthy. After being rated as ‘inadequate’ in 2010, Leeds first earned the ‘outstanding’ rating in 2018. The council maintained this standard during the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, with the 2025 inspection, it further cements its reputation for excellence. Ofsted’s most recent report notes, “Children in Leeds continue to benefit from effective services that improve children’s outcomes. An extensive range of well-established early help services meet the needs of many families and prevent concerns from increasing.”
The inspection report highlighted several key strengths, including the “impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families,” the “experiences and progress of children in care,” and the “experiences and progress of care leavers.” The council was also rated as ‘good’ regarding the experiences and progress of children needing help and protection, underlining a strong overall performance across all service areas.
Key Drivers Behind the Outstanding Rating
Central to Leeds’ sustained success is the visionary leadership and robust multi-agency partnerships that underpin its children’s services. According to Ofsted, senior leaders and council members possess “a determined vision for improving the lives of children in Leeds. Leaders are ambitious and are delivering service excellence through highly effective partnership working.” This collaborative ethos ensures that services remain responsive to the evolving needs of a diverse and dynamic community.
The council’s commitment to safeguarding is evident. Inspectors observed, “Safeguarding risks to children are identified quickly and are appropriately considered in strategy meetings, which are well attended by relevant partner agencies that share information and agree actions to reduce risks to children. Child protection enquiries are thorough, child-focused and lead to appropriate outcomes.” Such diligence has been instrumental in identifying and addressing risks before they escalate, fostering a culture of prevention and early intervention.
Investment in infrastructure and support networks further exemplifies Leeds’ dedication. Among the standout initiatives is the new Archway Hub, described in the inspection report as “an impressive well-resourced facility for care leavers to meet and access a range of support services and activities.” The Hub represents a holistic approach to aftercare, providing young people transitioning out of care with the resources and encouragement to pursue their goals and achieve independence.
Overcoming Challenges and Sustaining Excellence
Leeds’ consistent performance has not been without its challenges. The council has faced significant financial pressures, compounded by the social and economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing inequalities exacerbated by the rising cost of living. Despite these obstacles, Leeds has continued to invest in vulnerable children and families, ensuring that services not only meet but exceed national standards.
A core feature of Leeds’ strategy is the unwavering focus on positive outcomes for children. As the Ofsted report emphasized, “Leaders are ambitious for children and delivering service excellence, with an organisational culture that has an unwavering focus on promoting positive outcomes for children.” Social workers are described as “highly ambitious for children” and are commended for motivating young people to set high aspirations and achieve their dreams.
This cultural commitment is reinforced by ongoing professional development and support for staff, who are recognized for their “dedicated hard work,” even in the face of increased demand and complexity. The inspection report notes the council’s ability to “rise to these challenges by putting children and young people at the heart of all that they do.”
Notable Quotes From the Report and Stakeholders
- “Children in Leeds continue to benefit from effective services that improve children’s outcomes.”
- “Political and corporate support remains strong, which is evidenced in the council’s continued investment in services for vulnerable children.”
- “Social workers are highly ambitious for children and encourage them to have goals and dreams that children are motivated to achieve.”
- “The inspection outcome reflects the dedicated hard work of our passionate and committed front line staff, their managers, the wider council, our multi-agency partnership, and our wonderful Child Friendly City.”
Partnership, Community, and the Path Forward
Multi-agency collaboration has been central to Leeds’ approach. The council’s strategy meetings consistently include relevant partner agencies, ensuring a unified response to safeguarding issues and the sharing of vital information. This integrated model allows for swift identification and mitigation of risks, upholding the highest standards of child protection. The report highlights that “strategy meetings are well attended by relevant partner agencies that share information and agree actions to reduce risks to children.”
The city’s ambition is shaped by a deep understanding of the complex and diverse needs present in Leeds’ communities. These insights are translated into well-defined strategies and planning, allowing services to adapt to the changing needs of children and families. According to the Ofsted report, “Leaders understand the complex and diverse needs of children in the communities and what this means for children’s life chances and outcomes. These insights inform well-defined strategies and planning to respond to children’s changing needs.”
Leeds’ achievement has garnered praise from national figures as well. Ofsted’s national director of regulation and social care, Yvette Stanley, commented, “Leeds City Council’s ‘outstanding’ inspection outcome reflects the continued determination of its leadership team, managers and frontline staff, as well as the wider council and its safeguarding partners. This is a magnificent achievement, and the council should be proud of the sustained positive difference it has made for the children and families of Leeds over time.”
For More Information
The full Ofsted inspection report for Leeds City Council’s Children and Families services can be accessed via the Ofsted website.
Supplemental Data and Resources:
- Ofsted: Understanding inspection reports
- Leeds City Council Children and Families Services
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Leeds City Council’s Children and Families Services achieved its third consecutive ‘Outstanding’ rating from Ofsted, a historic milestone as the first UK core city to do so.
- This achievement showcases their commitment to safeguarding and improving outcomes for children, care leavers, and families, overcoming a previous ‘inadequate’ rating in 2010.
- Key strengths highlighted by Ofsted include visionary leadership, robust multi-agency partnerships, effective safeguarding, and a strong focus on children’s outcomes.
- The council has maintained this high standard despite significant challenges, including financial pressures and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A new initiative, the Archway Hub, provides a well-resourced facility offering support services and activities for care leavers.