Children's Home run by A Wilderness Way Limited in Cumberland

Inspection report for children’s home: 2865474 1 Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there was one child living in the home. The inspector met with the child.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in October 2025.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2865474 2

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Summary of findings

Two children have lived in the home for a considerable length of time, previously living here when it formed part of a multi-building registration. One child has recently moved on, following a well ‑ planned and sensitively supported move. Children experience exceptionally high ‑ quality, nurturing care that enables remarkable progress in all areas from their starting points. They have positive, trusting relationships with staff that underpin a therapeutic, research ‑ informed approach promoting resilience, aspiration and emotional security. Risks reduce significantly due to proactive and well ‑ coordinated safeguarding practice. The registered manager provides inspirational leadership, and partnership working is consistently strong.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children living in the home experience exceptionally positive care that has transformed their lives. Both children have developed deep trust in the staff and speak with pride about the progress that they have made. One child described their journey as ‘a full 360’, crediting the staff with helping them become the person they are today. This reflects the staff’s unwavering commitment to providing stability, emotional security and a nurturing environment where children feel genuinely valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home’s relationship ‑ based model of care is embedded in daily practice and delivered with warmth, consistency and therapeutic insight. Staff work seamlessly with the therapeutic service, creating a clear, golden thread that links children’s past experiences to their current needs. This results in highly individualised, sensitive care that promotes resilience, independence and aspirational thinking. Children thrive because staff understand them deeply and offer meaningful opportunities that stretch their confidence and broaden their sense of what is possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff place significant emphasis on the importance of friendships, family connections and social identity. They go above and beyond to sustain children’s relationships, travelling long distances, welcoming friends into the home and recreating meaningful family traditions. This has enabled children to build lasting friendships, and for one child, contributed to a successful move back to their local area with a safer support network. Staff also work sensitively to strengthen family relationships, helping children maintain a strong sense of identity and emotional security despite living far from home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make impressive progress in education from their individual starting points. One child who had been out of education for several years is now reintegrated and studying for their GCSEs. Another child accessed a bespoke programme focused on social and emotional wellbeing, which helped them to develop confidence and begin expressing future aspirations, including a career in fashion. Staff nurtured this interest Inspection report for children’s home: 2865474 3 by exploring the possibility of the child working in a sewing shop and supporting the child to design their own clothes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff promote healthy lifestyles and emotional wellbeing exceptionally well. Staff use research ‑ informed, trauma ‑ sensitive approaches to help children overcome barriers, including supporting one child to expand their restricted diet through exposure ‑ based strategies and playful ‘I’m a Celebrity’ style food challenges. Another child’s emotional wellbeing improved so significantly that they were able to reduce their long ‑ term medication. Staff continually adapt their practice through training and therapeutic guidance, leading to meaningful change, such as a complete transformation in one child’s sleep routine through personalised sensory resources and calming bedtime rituals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from a range of enriching experiences that build confidence, spark joy and create lasting memories. From first ‑ time theme park visits and outdoor adventures to horse riding, craft activities and sunset chasing, children are encouraged to explore their interests and try new things. Alongside this, staff skilfully prepare children for independence through personalised plans, supporting them to manage appointments, money and travel, and make meals, at a pace that feels safe and achievable. This approach ensures that children leave the home with the confidence and practical skills they need for their next steps.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Children are exceptionally well protected because staff provide highly individualised, consistent and nurturing care. Since moving into the home, children’s risks have reduced significantly, and professionals speak with admiration about the quality of the support the children have received. One professional noted that a child ‘feels so loved, cared for and valued’, reflecting the strength of relationships and the profound sense of safety children experience.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Staff have an excellent understanding of each child’s needs and vulnerabilities. This insight is reflected in detailed, regularly reviewed risk assessments and support plans that clearly guide staff practice. When children’s circumstances change, staff work proactively with placing authorities and partner agencies to ensure that plans remain responsive, child ‑ centred and effective, resulting in consistently well ‑ coordinated safeguarding practice.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Children are supported to understand their emotions and behaviours through reflective, trauma ‑ informed approaches. Staff use creative tools such as arts ‑ based work, role play and visual resources to help children express worries and process difficult experiences safely. This sensitive approach strengthens children’s emotional resilience, self ‑ awareness and coping strategies, contributing to calmer behaviour and improved decision ‑ making. Inspection report for children’s home: 2865474 4 Safeguarding incidents are rare, and when concerns arise, staff respond promptly, transparently and in line with procedures. Learning from incidents is embedded through regular team meetings, handovers and reflective discussions, ensuring a consistent and informed approach.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Children benefit from warm, predictable behaviour support that promotes self ‑ esteem, clear boundaries and personal responsibility. As a result, children do not go missing from the home and feel a strong sense of belonging and security. Physical intervention is used only as a last resort and is followed by reflective conversations that centre on the child’s voice and contribute to ongoing learning.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Staff deliver creative, research ‑ informed direct work that helps children understand risk, build confidence and make safer choices. They support children to take age ‑ appropriate risks through focused work on topics such as online safety, healthy relationships and peer influence. This approach has a measurable impact, for example one child’s significant online safety risk reduced following a structured programme of education and monitoring. Children respond positively to these innovative methods, with one reflecting that moving to the home has ‘changed their life’ and wishing others could experience the same positive change.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager, along with her leadership team, promotes an unwaveringly child ‑ centred culture underpinned by a strong, therapeutic ethos. Staff are highly committed, skilled and attuned to each child’s lived experience, resulting in practice that is consistently nurturing and thoughtful. Children’s voices are central to life in the home, reflected in creative initiatives such as the ‘[name of home] Wild West’ project, which gives the children an empowering and engaging way to evaluate their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager demonstrates exceptional advocacy for children, consistently challenging partner agencies when practice falls short. She escalates concerns promptly and professionally, ensuring that statutory responsibilities are met and that children’s rights, safety and welfare remain the highest priorities. Her persistent communication, clear expectations and challenge prevent drift and ensure that children receive timely safeguarding responses, coordinated planning and essential support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has an in ‑ depth understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development and has created a learning culture where practice is continually scrutinised and improved. Team meetings, supervision sessions and development days are used purposefully to embed research, reflective practice and therapeutic approaches. Staff carry out their own research, such as in emotional validation, leading to meaningful changes in practice that external professionals observe in children’s daily experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff development is a priority. New staff receive a comprehensive induction and are supported by experienced colleagues. Staff describe feeling valued, trusted and believed Inspection report for children’s home: 2865474 5 in ‘before they believe in themselves’, which empowers them to be creative and ambitious in their work. The registered manager is highly visible and supportive, prioritising staff welfare through regular supervision sessions and reflective discussions. This has created a cohesive, resilient team whose members communicate effectively and take pride in children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working is excellent. The registered manager maintains open and honest communication with parents and external agencies, ensuring that families remain involved and professionals remain well informed. External partners consistently highlight the quality of this joint working. One professional said, ‘[Name of home] are absolutely brilliant, they are phenomenal and have excellent communication.’ This reflects a culture of transparency, shared purpose and highly effective multi ‑ agency working that promotes the best outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2865474 6

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2865474 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: A Wilderness Way Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Stoneybeck Inn, Bowscar, Penrith CA11 8RP

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Inspector

Claire Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2865474 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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