Children's services in Solihull have secured a landmark 'good' rating from Ofsted for the first time in the borough's history, marking a dramatic transformation from an 'inadequate' judgement in 2022. The inspection, published on Monday, 12 January 2026, follows the tragic context of the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, which had precipitated the previous damning assessment.
Areas Requiring Consistent Strengthening
While praising leaders for their "demonstrable track record of delivering improvement" and clear commitment to progress, Ofsted inspectors identified several areas where practice must become more robust. The report specifically notes that permanence planning, care planning, and the systematic use of children’s voices need to become consistently stronger.
The watchdog outlined seven precise domains where further work is essential for the service to build on its good rating sustainably. These are:
- The quality of joint assessments for homeless 16 and 17-year-olds.
- The quality of assessments for children in care.
- The consistency and impact of independent reviewing officers.
- The tracking of permanency planning for children in care, including celebrating decisions about their long-term care.
- The clarity of actions in pathway plans to help care leavers achieve their aspirations and transition successfully to adulthood.
- Children’s collective influence and participation, specifically through the corporate parenting panel.
- Oversight and scrutiny of the impact of commissioned advocacy and specialist mental health services for children in care.
Experiences of Children in Care
The report states that while most children in care live in stable, nurturing homes, the experiences and progress of this group still require improvement to match the overall 'good' service rating. Inspectors found that for a small minority, entries into care are not timely or well planned, leading to unplanned or crisis admissions that make the start of their care journey more unsettled.
Furthermore, an inconsistent use of advocacy services and limited reassessment of changing needs means some children have less influence over their plans. The report also highlights that when foster or residential placements show signs of fragility, the response from services is inconsistent, leading to a small number of children experiencing repeated, potentially avoidable moves.
Leadership and Future Ambitions
Ofsted acknowledged that council leaders possess a clear understanding of their services and have produced a largely accurate self-evaluation, recognising the areas needing further work. Their shared vision has contributed to a renewed sense of stability and shared purpose for children in Solihull.
Councillor Karen Grinsell, Solihull Council’s leader and cabinet member for children and education, responded to the report. "We know there is always more to do," she stated, "so we will continue to make improvements and be ambitious for the future. Children and young people are at the heart of everything the council does, and we will do all we can to enable them to thrive." The council has already introduced a new policy to strengthen support for at-risk placements, though inspectors noted it is too early to see its full impact.
