Ofsted to cut visits to good and outstanding children's homes

In its response to a consultation on a raft of children's home regulatory changes, the government has said it will seek parliamentary approval to cut the number of visits to homes receiving one of the two top grades from two to one a year. Currently all children's homes are visited at least twice a year by inspectors.

The government has cited support from across the sector for the move, which will come into effect from April. Of the 21 organisations, including charities, providers and councils, which responded to a consultation on the proposals, 10 said they agreed and four said they "strongly agreed" with cutting the number of visits.

Just three said they either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the plans. Concerns including the fact that the standard of homes can "deteriorate quickly".

In its response the government has pledged to put in place a series of triggers for a further inspection. This includes backing a call in the consultation for a change of manager to prompt a further inspection. The government has also said that complaints, including those from whistleblowers and councils, will also trigger a visit.

Homes graded as "requires improvement" or "inadequate" as well as all secure children's homes, will continue to receive a minimum of two inspections a year.

Last December the Independent Children's Homes Association indicated it was opposed to reducing the number of visits for homes. 

The government has also said it will bring in a 10 per cent hike each year in the amount Ofsted can charge in registration fees. This will see this year's fee of £722 for a small children's home rise to £794 in 2017/18.

The move comes despite most respondents not supporting the rise and the government acknowledging providers particularly concerned that the proposed fee increases were another pressure on already tight budgets.

In its response the government said that, even with the price rise, the government is still heavily subsiding regulation, adding "given the wide gap between the cost of inspection and many providers' fees, the policy of an annual 10 per cent increase in inspection fees represents a measured way of bringing fees closer to full cost recovery".

A proposed reduction in annual registration charges for those running residential holiday schemes for disabled children will also go ahead.

Only 10 per cent of respondents disagreed with this move, which will see the £2,259 fee cut to £596 in 2017/18.