Council's children's services rated as good

A council's children's services have been rated by Ofsted as good following an inspection in September.

West Berkshire Council said the rating, which was given in all four areas that were assessed, "reflects the dedication and hard work of staff and leaders".

As well as the positives, the regulator found that a "very small number of children" who experienced neglect or domestic abuse did not have their needs "recognised or acted on quickly enough".

Heather Codling, the council's executive member for children's services, said the authority was "delighted" with Ofsted's overall findings but remained "ambitious and focused on addressing areas for improvement".

She added: "Our priority is to keep building on these strong foundations so that every child in West Berkshire can thrive."

At a previous inspection in 2022, the council's children's services were rated good.

In the most recent report, published on Tuesday, Ofsted found the council had a "positive management culture with an accessible and visible wider leadership team".

The council's executive director for children's services, AnnMarie Dodds, said: "This outcome reflects the dedication of our staff and partners who work tirelessly to support children and families.

"We are proud of the progress made and remain focused on tackling the areas where improvement is needed. Our vision is for every child in West Berkshire to thrive, and this report shows we are firmly on that path."