Following a five-day inspection in March, we are pleased to announce that Slough Children First’s Voluntary Adoption Service has maintained its ‘good’ grade from Ofsted. This follows on from a ‘good’ it received in May 2023.
Slough Children First is part of the regional adoption agency Coram Ambitious for Adoption and joined in April 2021.
During the recent inspection, Ofsted found that children and their adoptive families benefit from consistently high‑quality support delivered by an experienced and stable staff team.
It was also evident that children’s voices are heard and captured, with decisions being child‑centred and based on their best interests. Similarly, Ofsted found that children’s needs, including educational, physical, health and emotional, are considered, with one adopter positively noting that their child ‘now skips to nursery’.
Inspectors emphasised that the adoption agency’s keeping‑in‑touch service and life-story work are notable strengths, with adopters highlighting that training has improved their understanding of identity and the importance of life-story work, strengthening their appreciation of the value of maintaining appropriate contact arrangements for both children and birth families.
Debbie Jones, Executive Director of Children’s Services and Chief Executive of Slough Children First, said: “This is a great achievement for Slough! This judgement is a reflection of the hard work that professionals who support our children and young people under our adoption service carry out, for which I am grateful. The positive relationships highlighted between adopters, children and young people, and practitioners is evident to meaningful relationship building, decision making and quality support. We recognise that there is still more to do to build on our successes, and we fully accept the recommendations.”
Saima Arif, Head of Regulated Services at Slough Children First, added, “I am delighted with the outcome of this positive result. Our adoption agency achieving good once again is a testament to the hard work of all involved with this service, putting our children first and ensuring that both adopters and adoptees have positive experiences with us. Well done to all involved.”
We would like to thank all involved, who help to implement our vision of ensuring that children and young people in Slough are Happy, Safe & Loved, Thriving.
There are several recommendations that Ofsted has shared, which we will be taking into consideration and will implement.
Ofsted has now published the report, available to read on their website.
If you would like to be part of our adoption agency, which welcomes people with a whole range of backgrounds and life experiences, who are able to reflect and support the needs of the children waiting for adoption, please visit https://www.coramadoption.org.uk
When you adopt with us you won’t be alone.