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Children's Services

22 stories · discussed at 10 council meetings · 20 councils

Councils are addressing significant budget overspends in children's services while some achieve 'outstanding' Ofsted ratings.

Kensington and Chelsea's children's services received an 'outstanding' Ofsted rating for the third time in October 2026, with the inspection praising strong foundations and sustained improvements. Wandsworth's children's services also achieved an 'outstanding' rating in September 2026. However, Ofsted identified areas for improvement in Kensington and Chelsea, including the quality of supervision and Independent Reviewing Officer oversight for older children in care. Merton Council's children's services faced scrutiny in September 2026 over increased complaints and delayed responses.

Several councils are forecasting significant budget overspends in children's services for 2026/27, driven by rising demand and costs. Bexley Council forecasts a £0.6 million overspend in October 2026, attributed to agency staff and high-cost placements. Wandsworth Council projects a £5.3 million overspend, and Hammersmith and Fulham Council faces a £14.3 million overspend, both partly due to children's services pressures. Islington Council is expanding apprenticeships and staff support in October 2026 to address a critical workforce shortage.

Children's services, provided by local authorities, safeguard and support children and young people, including those in care and with disabilities. Councils report increasing demand, high referral rates to social care, and a rapid rise in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) as key factors contributing to financial pressures and the need for transformation programmes, such as Croydon's 'Helping Families Thrive' initiative in January 2026.

Key facts

  1. Kensington and Chelsea's children's services were rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted for the third time in October 2026. Source
  2. Bexley Council forecasts a £0.6 million overspend in social care, including children's services, for 2026/27. Source
  3. Wandsworth Council projects a £5.3 million budget overspend for the current financial year, driven by social care and children's services. Source
  4. Islington Council is expanding apprenticeships and staff support to address a children's workforce shortage in October 2026. Source
  5. Wandsworth's children's services achieved an 'outstanding' Ofsted rating in September 2026. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 23 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 2

  1. Merton Council Children's Services Faces Scrutiny Over Increased Complaints and Delayed Responses Merton Council's children's services is facing scrutiny over its handling of complaints, with a significant increase in the number of formal complaints received and a... Merton 5 September 2026
  2. Croydon Committee Reviews Children's Services Transformation and Demand Pressures Croydon's Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee met on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, to review the progress of the local plan and discuss various aspects of children's... Croydon 5 July 2026
  3. Councillor Anthony Okereke Re-elected Leader of Greenwich Council Councillor Anthony Okereke has been re-elected as Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich Council at the authority's annual meeting, securing a significant majority for the... Greenwich 30 May 2026
  4. Bexley Children's Services Faces £2.2m Overspend Due to Increased Support Costs Bexley's Children's Services is facing a projected overspend of £2.234 million, primarily driven by increased costs associated with supporting children with disabilities and... Bexley 26 March 2026
  5. Hillingdon Council Faces £36.3 Million Budget Overspend Driven by Social Care and Housing Pressures Hillingdon Council is facing a significant budget overspend of £36.3 million for the current financial year, primarily driven by increased demand in children's services, adult... Hillingdon 23 March 2026
  6. Richmond Children's Services Face £1.4m Overspend Driven by Placement Costs Richmond Council's children's services are facing a projected overspend of £1.4 million, primarily driven by the rising costs of placing children in care. This financial... Richmond upon Thames 1 February 2026
  7. H&F Council Proposes £17.9m Savings and Council Tax Hike Amidst Financial Pressures Hammersmith and Fulham Council is planning to make savings of £17.9 million for the 2026/27 financial year as part of its Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). The proposals... Hammersmith and Fulham 30 January 2026
  8. Hammersmith and Fulham Council Proposes Nearly 3% Council Tax Increase for 2026/27 Budget Hammersmith and Fulham Council is proposing to increase Council Tax by nearly 3% for residents as part of its budget for the 2026/27 financial year. The increase, which includes... Hammersmith and Fulham 30 January 2026