Government ends intervention in previously ‘inadequate’ services

The Department for Education has withdrawn its intervention from a previously ‘inadequate’-rated children’s services following improvements.

Northamptonshire council’s children’s services was issued an improvement notice after being rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted in 2013. A follow-up inspection report published in April found the services had made progress and its rating was upgraded to ‘requires improvement’.

Children’s minister Edward Timpson has now written to the council to confirm formal intervention from government was deemed no longer necessary.

“I am grateful for your commitment to supporting an ongoing improvement programme and for the significant financial investment made to secure those improvements,” he wrote.

Northamptonshire has announced its intention to move its children services into an independent trust by September this year. Timpson said this decision was a key part of the services’ improvement journey.

Matthew Golby, Northamptonshire’s lead council member for children’s services, said he was pleased the government had recognised the progress made.

He said: “We are fully committed to continuing our improvement programme and look forward to working with the government to fully embed the progress and address the outstanding areas for improvement”.