Windsor and Maidenhead focused visit
Achieving for Children's (AfC) services have been commended by Ofsted for delivering strong, effective and child‑centred support for children and young people in care.
Ofsted carried out a focused visit to our children’s services in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) on 13 and 14 January 2026. More specifically, inspectors focused on the quality of matching, placement and decision-making for children in care, as well as the experiences and progress of disabled children in care.
The findings highlighted the consistently high quality of care provided, noting that children and young people benefit from well‑coordinated, multidisciplinary support that promotes their wellbeing, educational progress and long‑term outcomes.
Some of the key strengths identified included:
- A strong focus on kinship care. Siblings are kept together and placements are made within family networks where possible. Time with family is a priority and reunification is also actively considered when appropriate and safe.
- Prioritising education and employment. The virtual school provides robust support with regular meetings with children or young people enabling excellent progress.
- Positive relationships with social workers. Social workers build strong, consistent relationships with the children and young people in their care, which enables them to give appropriate support throughout their care journey.
- Robust governance and clear leadership. Governance arrangements between Achieving for Children and RBWM are effective, and corporate parenting responsibilities are a priority for leaders.
- Early emotional support and opportunities to thrive. Children are supported emotionally through strengths and difficulties questionnaires which help to identify needs at an early stage. They are also offered a wide range of recreational activities which bolster confidence and independence.
Ofsted also commends the significant improvements in the stability of the workforce. Since the last visit in 2024, there has been a reduction in staff turnover, which positively impacts the children as it means fewer changes in social workers. Staff were also recognised for the strong internal networks which mean that children’s plans progress quickly.
Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Windsor, Cllr Amy Tisi said: “This positive Ofsted report reflects the dedication of our staff and the strong relationships they build with children and young people in our care. We are committed to ensuring children and young people in the Royal Borough have the best positive start to life and we will continue to drive forward further improvements to ensure they are safe, supported and able to flourish.”
Commenting on the visit outcome, Lin Ferguson, Executive Director Children's Services and Education (Windsor and Maidenhead), noted: "I am delighted that Ofsted inspectors have recognised the strength of our corporate parenting offer to our children in care and that it is making a positive difference to their lives, life chances and overall well-being. Children in care are given the highest priority within the council and at AfC, and it is great that this has been acknowledged and validated by the regulators. It takes a village to raise a child and it takes a whole team approach to get it right for our children and young people. I want to thank every colleague who goes the extra mile, every single day to make a difference. I am very proud of all of you, well done."
Adding to this, Sarah Moran, Deputy Director Children's Social Care and Early Help, said: "I'm delighted with the recent outcome from our focused visit which has recognised our colleagues' commitment to our children in care and the level of care and support that they give each and every day."
RBWM and AfC have continued to invest in housing for children and young people in care, with the recent opening of a new children’s home. Oak House provides a warm, homely and stable environment for young people in care which allows them to remain close to existing support networks.
