Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Children’s Services.

34.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services.

34.2     It was RESOLVED to:

1)    note the findings of the Ofsted Focused Visit which were published on 1 September 2025; and

2)    note that the areas of improvement set out in the 2023 ILACS have been addressed and recognised by Ofsted.

Reasons

34.3     East Sussex has maintained a focus on the key priority outcome of keeping vulnerable people safe. The response letter recognises the improvements made following the last ILACS in 2023, in relation to the Public Law Outline, private fostering arrangements and neglect.

34.4     Ofsted recognised the work to support many children to remain at home, through our connected families approach.

34.5     The visit and the subsequent response letter were resoundingly positive, including the encouraging recognition of leadership and of ESCC as a reflective and improvement driven local authority.

34.6     The findings of the visit will be considered when planning the next inspection which in line with the three-year cycle for this Ofsted framework, is likely to be an inspection of local authority children’s services later next year.