The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) has published a letter setting out its findings following a monitoring visit on 10 and 11 March 2026. You can read the letter in full on the Ofsted website.
This was the fifth monitoring visit since our Children’s Services for children who need help and protection were judged “Inadequate” by inspectors in July 2023. Inspectors found that since the previous monitoring visit in October 2025, “social work practice and management oversight has significantly declined in quality and effectiveness,” leading to “insufficient focus on quality assurance, sustainability and contingency planning,” and stalling the “speed and trajectory of improvement” previously observed.
However, inspectors also noted a recent improvement in practice. They acknowledged steps taken to increase service stability through the appointment of a permanent Children’s Services senior leadership team (including the appointment of Sue Butcher, as our new permanent Director of People), and through an increase in capacity. They also found that “key safeguarding partners remain engaged in the improvement process.”
The letter explains that “leaders understand the need to ensure a more appropriate, consistent and timely response for children” and that a recent needs analysis, and the ongoing development of a new children and young people’s plan, has given the Council a “clearer understanding of the areas of focus and resource and has increased engagement with the local community.” It concludes that “political leaders are aware that stringent and independent oversight is essential to reinstate and build on the improvements that had previously been made.”
The Council fully accepts Ofsted’s findings and acknowledges the regrettable overall deterioration in practice since the previous monitoring visit. We also note the comments which welcome the steps we have taken to stabilise and improve our services so far this year, and we are fully committed to building on this recent progress.
Sue Butcher, Director of People, Council of the Isles of Scilly said: “Since starting in my role at the beginning of March, I have focused on building and stabilising my permanent team so we can continue to address the areas identified for improvement with renewed energy and consistency. We have secured additional improvement capacity, strengthened oversight and planning for children’s needs, made progress in identifying the specific needs of children and families, and increased engagement with the community. We have also made good progress in formulating a road map for our response to the social care reforms. I am confident that the full Ofsted inspection, which is expected in autumn of this year, will show significant improvement as a result of these changes.”
Councillor Robert Francis, Chairman of the Council of the Isles of Scilly, said: “These findings clearly show that between October 2025 and early March 2026, the Council failed to maintain the pace of improvement that had previously been evidenced, and I apologise to the community for falling short of our ambitions for the service during this period. I share the Director of People’s confidence that we are already emerging from this regression, and I firmly believe that these findings will help us bring about the changes needed to stabilise and improve these services in the long term. I would like to thank Ofsted and the Department for Education for their continued guidance as we enter into the next phase of our improvement journey.”
Councillor Joel Williams, Lead Member for Children, said: “There is no denying that this is disappointing news for everyone who has worked so hard to implement the required improvements, but now is not the time to become despondent. I will continue to do my very best to support the service as the recommended changes are implemented, and to ensure that my fellow Councillors and the community are updated as things progress. I’m reassured that the appointment of a new permanent leadership team in Children’s Services will boost efforts to deliver the high-quality services our children, young people and families deserve, and that we will be in a much better position by the time we are reinspected.”
Raising a concern or seeking support
We understand that the community will be disappointed to read some of these findings, but it remains vital that everyone continues to contact Children’s Services to seek support, or if they are concerned about a child. If you have concerns about a child, even if you're unsure, report it to us so that we can check.
Phone: 0300 1234 105 (option 5). Out of hours: 01720 422699.
Email: adminchildrenservices@scilly.gov.uk
If somebody is in immediate danger, dial 999 and ask for the police.