We congratulate council for rapid progress on children’s services

This newspaper has been brutal in the past in its condemnation of West Sussex County Council and its long-term failure to secure the quality of children’s services that are required.

The council was ordered to place its services for Children and Families into a separate Children’s Trust following an inadequate Ofsted report in 2019 and a subsequent damning report by a children’s commissioner appointed by the DfE to look at the council’s work.

However, the announcement that the services will remain under the control of the county council for at least another year in light of the significant progress that has been made is good news indeed.

In a letter from Children’s Minister Vicky Ford to the Leader of West Sussex County Council Paul Marshall outlining details of the decision, the Minister said: “I am encouraged that there is now a new political leadership in respect of children’s services, supported by strong senior executive appointments, including a new director of children’s services.

“This has undoubtedly been strengthened by the wider work the council is undertaking to reform the corporate council, with the support of its corporate improvement partner, East Sussex County Council. The strength of this partnership will evidently be important in creating the conditions in which children’s services can continue to improve.”

There is still much to be done but we congratulate leader Mr Marshall, chief executive Becky Shaw, and the senior team on making such rapid progress in protecting the most vulnerable in our communities.