Haringey Outstanding Children’s Services Ofsted 2026

Key Points

• Haringey Council in north London, previously criticised for failures in the deaths of Victoria Climbié in 2000 and Baby P (Peter Connelly) in 2007, has received its first “outstanding” rating for children’s services from Ofsted.
• The inspection took place over a two-week period in January 2026, evaluating the experiences of children and young people receiving care, help, protection, and improvement efforts by the council.
• Inspectors praised strong leadership, exceptional social work practice, and a culture where children’s voices influence decision-making at every level.
• Areas of excellence include strong and skilled social workers, effective and comprehensive early help services, exceptional care leaver support, robust safeguarding arrangements, and strong strategic leadership.
• Haringey Council leader Peray Ahmet described the judgement as “a major moment and tremendous achievement,” highlighting progress through investments in services for children, young people, and families.
• Ahmet stated the council will use this rating as a platform to “work even harder to improve outcomes,” emphasising that “we do it for them, and the work does not stop here.”
• Director of children’s services Ann Graham called the score “the outcome of years of sustained improvement, dedication of our staff, and genuine partnership across our communities.”
• The full inspection report is available on the Ofsted website at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/44/80498.

Haringey (North London News) February 24, 2026
Children’s services at Haringey Council, the north London authority scarred by two of the UK’s most notorious child welfare failures, has been awarded an “outstanding” rating by Ofsted for the first time. The landmark judgement follows a rigorous two-week inspection in January 2026, marking a dramatic turnaround from the severe criticisms levelled after the tragic deaths of Victoria Climbié in 2000 and Peter Connelly, known as Baby P, in 2007, where multiple opportunities to intervene were missed.

What Triggered Haringey’s Past Criticisms?

Haringey Council faced national outrage and intense scrutiny following the death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbié in 2000, who suffered horrific abuse despite repeated contacts with social services, police, and the NHS. Lord Laming’s subsequent inquiry exposed systemic failures, including ignored warnings and poor record-keeping. Seven years later, in 2007, three-year-old Peter Connelly died after enduring over 50 injuries at the hands of his mother Tracey Connelly, her partner Steven Barker, and babysitter Jason Owen, while under Haringey’s supervision. As reported in various media outlets covering the case at the time, such as the BBC and The Guardian, inspectors found “serious shortcomings” with social workers overburdened and cases neglected. These scandals led to government interventions, sackings, and a damning Ofsted report rating services “inadequate.”

When and How Did Ofsted Conduct the Inspection?

Over a two-week period in January 2026, Ofsted inspectors meticulously examined the day-to-day experiences of children and young people in Haringey’s care, help, and protection systems. The evaluation also assessed the council’s broader efforts to enhance these vital services. This unannounced and comprehensive review involved direct engagement with vulnerable children, social workers, and leadership, aligning with Ofsted’s standard multi-agency inspection framework for local authority children’s services (LACFS).

What Does the Ofsted Report Highlight as Outstanding?

The report singles out strong and skilled social workers who deliver exceptional practice, effective and comprehensive early help services that prevent escalation of risks, and exceptional support for care leavers transitioning to adulthood. Robust safeguarding arrangements ensure timely interventions, underpinned by strong and strategic leadership that fosters a pervasive culture of accountability. Crucially, inspectors noted a transformative environment where children’s voices genuinely shape decision-making at every level, from frontline case reviews to strategic planning. No detail was overlooked: the report praises the council’s ability to track outcomes, allocate resources efficiently, and collaborate with partners like schools and health services.

How Has Haringey Council Responded to the Rating?

Haringey Council leader Peray Ahmet hailed the judgement as “a major moment and tremendous achievement.” She elaborated,

“It demonstrates the borough’s progress and reaffirms the choices we have made to invest in services for children, young people and families.”

Ahmet committed to building on this success, stating,

“We will now use this ‘outstanding’ judgement as a platform to work even harder to improve outcomes for our children and young people. We do it for them, and the work does not stop here.”

Ann Graham, the council’s director of children’s services, attributed the rating to “the outcome of years of sustained improvement, dedication of our staff, and genuine partnership across our communities.” Her comments underscore the long-term cultural shift since the scandals, involving relentless staff training, recruitment drives, and community engagement initiatives.

Why Is This Rating Significant for Haringey?

This “outstanding” accolade represents Haringey’s first ever top rating in children’s services, a stark contrast to previous “inadequate” and “requires improvement” verdicts post-2000 and 2007. It signals to residents, partners, and government that the council has rebuilt trust through tangible reforms. For families in north London, particularly in deprived areas of Tottenham and Wood Green where Haringey operates, it promises reliable protection nets amid rising national concerns over child exploitation and mental health. Nationally, it exemplifies redemption for a council once synonymous with failure, potentially influencing policy on underperforming authorities elsewhere.

What Challenges Remain Despite the Outstanding Rating?

While the report is overwhelmingly positive, Ofsted inspections always identify areas for refinement, though none compromised the overall grade here. Inspectors may have noted ongoing pressures like rising demand from poverty-linked referrals or post-pandemic backlogs, common across UK councils. Haringey must sustain its momentum, as Ahmet and Graham emphasise, to prevent regression. Continuous monitoring via Ofsted’s survey monitoring visits will ensure vigilance.

How Does This Fit into Broader UK Child Services Trends?

Haringey’s success story aligns with incremental improvements in English children’s services, where only a fraction achieve “outstanding.” Government data shows about 10% of councils at this level as of late 2025, with many still “requires improvement.” This rating bolsters Peray Ahmet’s leadership profile amid local elections and reinforces Labour-run Haringey’s credentials against national critiques of council austerity impacts. It also spotlights Ofsted’s role in driving accountability, as seen in recent high-profile interventions elsewhere.

What Do Experts and Stakeholders Say?

Child welfare advocates have cautiously welcomed the news. As reported by journalists covering similar Ofsted outcomes in outlets like The Times and Local Government Chronicle, experts stress that ratings reflect snapshots, urging sustained performance. Frontline workers, anonymously quoted in council statements, credit better workloads and support. Parents and carers involved in Haringey’s services have reportedly fed back positively during inspections, reinforcing the children’s voices emphasis.

Background: From Scandal to Transformation

Post-Victoria Climbié, Haringey implemented Laming’s 108 recommendations, including better inter-agency protocols. Baby P’s death prompted further overhaul: Sharon Shoesmith, then children’s services director, was dismissed; Baby P’s social worker Hedy Epstein resigned. By 2010, services stabilised to “adequate,” climbing to “good” by 2023 through investments exceeding £20 million annually in social care. Key milestones included specialised teams for domestic abuse and exploitation, digital case management, and partnerships with the NHS and police. The January 2026 inspection confirms these as embedded.

What Happens Next for Haringey?

The council plans to leverage the rating for further recruitment of social workers and expansion of early intervention hubs. Ahmet’s pledge signals ambitions like zero-tolerance for drift in cases and enhanced support for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, a growing cohort in diverse Haringey. The full report, accessible via Ofsted’s site, will inform public scrutiny at March council meetings.