Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz has said she is “over the moon” after the Ofsted watchdog graded the town hall’s chidren’s services “outstanding”.
Ofsted inspectors gave Newham Council’s childrens’ services – which look after and monitor children needing protection or care – a clean sheet in a report published on Monday (12 January).
Responding to the report, Labour mayor Fiaz said: “I am over the moon that we have achieved outstanding across all areas of the Ofsted inspection for our children’s services, the first time ever that Newham Council has met the coveted Ofsted gold standard.
“It’s a testament to our enduring commitment for Newham to be the best place for children and young people in our borough.”
Ofsted previously rated the council’s children’s services “inadequate” in 2014, upgrading this to “good” in 2019.
However, an inspection in November 2025 found them to be “outstanding” in all four areas that Ofsted examines.
The report said council leaders had “continued to build on the strengths
seen at the last inspection, securing further improvements in the quality of
services”.
In an almost enitrely positive report, Oftsed said that finding sufficient placements for children “continues to be a challenge” for the council.
However, it said the council had “acted to strengthen provision” including by investing in its own care homes.
Labour councillor Sarah Ruiz, responsible for children’s services, said the grading was “a testament to every member of staff who continue to put our children and young people at the heart of everything we do in Newham”.
Note: this article was amended on Thursday, 15 January at 4.53pm to update the picture credit.
