Government inspectors who visited the council-owned children’s home contradict the Town Hall’s critical report that prompted the cancellation of an £8.6m, seven-year contract. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES
The Croydon children’s home where the council cancelled its management contract with a charity barely six months after it opened has been given a “Good” rating by Ofsted inspectors.
Inside Croydon revealed last month that the council had served notice on contractors the St Christopher’s Fellowship citing “concerns”, with children put “into situations that subsequently resulted in placement breakdowns and/or hospital admissions”.
The home, which cannot be named for safeguarding reasons, only opened in April this year. It had been prepared to operate as a children’s home with four rooms in 2025 as part of Mayor Jason Perry’s “Stabilisation Plan” to cut costs by avoiding the high charges made by private providers.
The procurement contract to manage the home was supposed to be for a duration of seven years at a total cost of £8.57million – or £1.2million per year.
Croydon Council is undergoing another procurement process for managers of the children’s home as replacements for St Christopher’s Fellowship, who have rejected many of the council’s criticisms as unfounded and untrue.
The Ofsted report, made public yesterday, will certainly strengthen the charity’s case.
Perry’s project: the children’s home was opened by the council and a charity in March. There’s no mention of the ‘Good’ Ofsted rating on the council website today
The Ofsted inspection was conducted on September 3 and 4 – almost one month after Croydon Council had issued its worrying report suggesting the home was poorly managed and, significantly, according to Croydon Council, “the home has not had a permanent registered manager since registration and service commencement”.
The Ofsted report directly contradicts the council’s assertion.
The Ofsted report begins: “The home is run by a not-for-profit charity and cares for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.
“At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home.
“The home and the manager registered with Ofsted March 2026. This was the home’s first inspection since registration.”
And Ofsted rated the children’s home as:
- Overall experiences and progress of children and young people Good
- How well children and young people are helped and protected Good
- The effectiveness of leaders and managers Good
“The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for ‘Good’.”
Elsewhere in the seven-page inspection report, Ofsted says, “Since the home registered with Ofsted, four children have lived at the home. Two children have moved on following relatively short stays. Leaders have reflected on these moves and identified learning to strengthen future planning. This includes reviewing suitability assessments, consulting with staff and ensuring that staff training reflects the needs of children moving into the home.
This looks ‘Good’: the Ofsted inspection reached a very different view to the council’s report
“Staff support children to pursue their interests and encourage their engagement in learning. Staff have supported one child to secure a place in further education.
“Staff and the registered manager work collaboratively with professionals to identify and progress educational opportunities that meet children’s individual needs. This helps children to access suitable learning experiences and make progress from their starting points…
“… Staff create an environment in which children feel comfortable talking about their lives, feelings and relationships with others.
“Staff promote family time and support children during visits with their families outside the home. During the inspection, one parent provided positive feedback about the care and support offered by staff. The parent described communication as good and said that they are kept up to date about what is happening in their child’s life.
“Staff promote a warm and welcoming environment for children. Children’s bedrooms are personalised, helping them to express their individuality and develop a sense of identity.
“Staff encourage children to develop independence and take responsibility for their personal spaces. For example, one child cares for a pet in their bedroom, helping them to develop responsibility.”
Under the heading “How well children and young people are helped and protected”, the report notes: “Staff have a good understanding of children’s risks, vulnerabilities and early signs that concerns may be increasing.
“Staff and leaders work closely with other professionals through regular multi-agency meetings to develop and review safety plans. This helps to ensure that children receive coordinated support that reduces risks and promotes their safety and wellbeing.
“Children’s health needs are addressed well…
“The registered manager works collaboratively with partner agencies and the wider professional network to develop and review plans for children. Through regular meetings and discussions, the registered manager helps to ensure that plans remain focused on children’s needs and future goals…”.
The council report which announced the intention to terminate St Christopher’s contract referred to “hospitalisations”, and one passage in the Ofsted report may provide some clue as to the circumstances that lay behind that concern.
Cabinet: Andy Stranack (right) had his name on the report that cancelled the contract on Mayor Perry’s money-saving children’s home
“Managers have considered learning from a recent medication recording error and have taken action to improve practice. However, central records do not consistently identify which member of staff has collected and returned children’s medication from health services. This reduces the audit trail for medicine management and limits management
oversight.”
Under the next category heading, “The effectiveness of leaders and managers”, which Ofsted also rated as “Good”, the inspector writes: “The registered manager has a good understanding of children’s needs and vulnerabilities and advocates effectively on their behalf.”
This directly contradicts Croydon Council’s report which stated the home “has not had a permanent registered manager since registration and service commencement”.
The council report was written by Stuart Collins, Croydon’s corporate director for children, young people and education. Mayor Perry’s cabinet member responsible was given in that report as Councillor Andy Stranack.
For the cash-strapped council, a “Good” Ofsted report on its new, money-saving children’s home would usually be trumpeted from the top of the Town Hall as very good news for an organisation that rarely has any genuine good news to promote.
But almost two days since the “Good” Ofsted report was published, there’s no trace of a mention of the report to be found on the council’s website. How odd…
- Click here to read Ofsted’s full report on Croydon Council’s children’s home, September 2026
- Click here to see the council’s contract termination report
Read more: Council could face legal battle over £8.6m children’s home deal
Read more: Council cancels £8.6m children’s home contract after 6 months
Read more: Charity ‘strongly disputes’ council report on children’s home
Read more: Outsourcing children’s home has proved costly and high risk
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One perhaps gets the impression that senior Croydon Council staff are trying to make others look bad in order to make itself out to be not the ones to blame. Oh, how unlikely!
I’m personally so glad the truth has been revealed away from the deliberate obfuscation of the council.
Good on St Christopher’s Fellowship. And ofsted.