Children's Home run by Polar Childcare Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2801032 1 Registered provider: Polar Childcare Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to 3 children who experience social and emotional difficulties, mental disorders or who are drug and alcohol dependent.

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Information about this children's home

The home was registered with Ofsted in August 2024. The registered manager post has been vacant since September 2025.

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Information about this children's home

There were no children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The children's home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 28 and 29 October 2025. Due to the serious and widespread safeguarding failures and poor leadership and management of the home, Ofsted issued a notice suspending the registration of the home.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor the provider's compliance with the suspension notice and any action taken to address the shortfalls outlined in this notice.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has complied with the suspension notice, and no children have moved into the home. However, the provider has not taken sufficient action to address the shortfalls outlined in the suspension notice.

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This monitoring visit

There have been changes to the leadership of the home. There is a new responsible individual in post. The new responsible individual and the director have implemented an action plan to address the shortfalls outlined in the suspension notice.

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This monitoring visit

A full redecoration of the home is in progress.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, several staff have left. One member of staff continues to work at the home. They have started to improve their knowledge by completing Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: 2801032 2 relevant training to support children safely. Since the last inspection, the member of staff has received supervision. However, they did not have the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the shortfalls that led to led to the home's registration being suspended. This is a missed opportunity to reflect on the previous shortfalls to help make continuous improvements to the care they provide for children.

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This monitoring visit

The home does not have sufficient staff to care for children. The director and responsible individual are in the process of recruiting new staff to work at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The director and responsible individual have reviewed their recruitment, induction, training and monitoring systems. This is helping them to improve their oversight of staff practice to ensure that staff understand their roles and responsibilities.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, there has been one team meeting. However, there is no written record of this or what was discussed. Therefore, it is not clear if there has been any learning for staff to improve their care and safeguarding practices.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual and director have plans to support the new staff team together once it is in employment and a new manager is recruited. This will allow leaders and managers to set expectations of staff practice and reiterate policy and procedures.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements raised at the full inspection were outside the scope of this visit and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: 2801032 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/10/2025 Full Inadequate 25/02/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: 2801032 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the 'Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards'. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 18 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that— 18 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: 2801032 5 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children's home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. 18 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: 2801032 6 The registered person may permit an individual to start work at the home despite the fact that the requirement in paragraph (3)(d) has not been met if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person has taken all reasonable steps to obtain full information about each of the matters in Schedule 2 in respect of the individual, but the enquiries in relation to any of the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2 are incomplete;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information in respect of the individual has been obtained in relation to the matters in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the circumstances are exceptional; and

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Requirement Due date

the registered person ensures that the individual is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual's duties, pending receipt of any outstanding information on the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2, which is then considered satisfactory by the registered person.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must take reasonable steps to ensure that any individual who is working at the home and who does not fall within paragraph (2)(a) and (b) is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual's duties. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(a)(b)(d) (7)(a)(b)(c)(d) (8))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service checks and overseas employment checks are conducted and remain current prior to employment, and that satisfactory references are obtained and gaps in employment history are explained and explored. If a person has previously worked in a position involving work with children or vulnerable adults, verification and assessment of the reason the employment or position ended should take place, supported by a clear rationale about the person's suitability for the role.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. 18 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: 2801032 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child's behaviour, in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child's behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child's age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child's age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child's respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children's previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: 2801032 8 (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(xii)(xiii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children's home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that all managers and staff understand and follow safeguarding and allegation management policies. 18 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home's statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home;

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Requirement Due date

that each child's relevant plans are followed; and

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Requirement Due date

that the child's placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child's relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child's needs;

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Requirement Due date

the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b)(ii)(c)(e)(i)(ii)) 18 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— 18 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: 2801032 9 a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint, at the registered provider's expense, a person ("the independent person") to visit and report on the children's home carried on by the registered provider.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), the registered provider may not appoint the following as an independent person—

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Requirement Due date

a person who has, or has had, a connection with—

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Requirement Due date

which the registered provider considers to give rise to doubts about that person's impartiality (for the purposes of producing the independent person's report – see regulation 44).

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must declare any actual or potential conflict of interest (whether of the type mentioned in paragraph (3) or otherwise) to the registered provider without delay and, if reasonably practicable, before conducting a visit to the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider becomes aware of a potential conflict of interest in relation to the independent person before or during the independent person visiting the home (see regulation 44), the registered provider must—

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Requirement Due date

make arrangements to cancel the visit without delay; and

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Requirement Due date

appoint a different independent person to visit the home. (Regulation 43 (1) (3)(g)(i) (6) (7)(a)(b)) 18 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: 2801032 10 The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child's education and training targets, as recorded in the child's relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child's learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child's relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(viii)(x))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children's personal education plans are accessible to the staff to support children with their targets and provide opportunities for informal learning and the development of independence skills when a child is out of education. 18 January 2026

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— 18 January 2026 Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: 2801032 11 meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that the home is decorated and maintained to a good standard and that any broken items in the bathroom and children's bedrooms are repaired or replaced, the back yard is clean and tidy and the wall in the utility is decorated.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children's home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)) 18 January 2026

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children's home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: 2801032 12

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Polar Childcare Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Halls House Farm, Chain Lane, Staining, Blackpool FY3 0DP

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Jonathan Broadstock

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Inspectors

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Karen Andrews, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home – monitoring visit: 2801032 13 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Inspectors

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government- licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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