Children's Home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC037309 1 SC037309 Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by a private organisation. It can provide care for up to 9 children with social and emotional difficulties. Five children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2026.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC037309 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2025 Full Good 03/07/2024 Full Good 16/05/2023 Full Good 08/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC037309 3

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Summary of findings

Children experience exceptionally nurturing, therapeutic and relationship-based care that enables them to make significant and sustained progress from their individual starting points. Children feel safe, valued and part of a family, benefiting from strong, trusting relationships with highly committed staff, who have high aspirations for their futures. Staff promote children’s education, independence, emotional wellbeing and identity, while maintaining effective safeguarding arrangements that protect and empower them. Leaders and managers are inspirational, reflective and ambitious, creating a positive culture of continuous improvement, strong partnership working and professional development that consistently delivers excellent experiences and outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make significant progress from their individual starting points. Staff enthusiastically provide a stable, caring, and loving environment, where children thrive and feel safe to express themselves. As a result, children learn, grow and make measurable progress in areas, including emotional regulation, relationships, education, independence and self-confidence. One child has exceeded all expectations in their A levels and is proud to be pursuing a university placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s relationships with adults are exceptionally strong. Staff interactions with children are warm, natural and affectionate. Children, parents, and professionals describe staff as supportive, caring and always available. Consequently, children experience considerable stability and consistency and develop secure relationships that help them feel settled, safe and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children positively contribute to the home. Staff encourage children to personalise their bedrooms and contribute to the home environment. Leaders have undertaken substantial renovations and redecoration of the home, transforming a once impersonal and clinical environment into a homely and cosy place that children and adults enjoy together. Subsequently, children have a powerful sense of belonging, value and respect for their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children live in a home, where they feel valued, accepted and part of a family. Children experience consistent routines, nurturing relationships and long-term planning. As a result, children speak positively about living in the home, develop a strong sense of security and benefit from the stability and emotional warmth that enables them to thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s opportunities to participate in activities are wide ranging. Children belong to clubs including circus skills, Cubs and trampolining. Children and staff enjoy camping trips together, and a recent summer trip to the Isle of Wight was highly successful. Children maintaining friendships, quality family time and staff make community Inspection report for children’s home: SC037309 4 engagement a top priority. As a result, children’s social development, confidence and self-esteem have improved significantly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have made extraordinary progress in developing practical independence skills. Staff prepare children for adulthood and future transitions, and this work is meticulously planned from an early stage. Staff maintain high aspirations for children and actively support educational progression, employment goals, university aspirations, fostering plans, reunification arrangements and transition to adulthood. As a result, children are well prepared for future independence and approach adulthood with confidence, ambition and the skills necessary to succeed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported by dedicated staff to maintain important family relationships and identity regardless of geographical distance. Staff go over and above to help children to sustain meaningful relationships, regular family contact, develop local support networks and community connections, and undertake significant travel where required. Consequently, children maintain strong connections to their families, histories and identities while benefiting from a broader network of support.

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

Staff protect children through a highly individualised and therapeutic approach to risk management that promotes both safety and positive development. Staff have exceptional understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and emerging risks and act promptly, when concerns arise. As a result, children are safer, experience fewer incidents and develop greater resilience and awareness of how to manage risks in their daily lives.

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

Staff support children to safely develop independence, confidence and life skills. Staff implement proportionate risk management strategies that balance protection with opportunities for age-appropriate experiences and decision-making. Children are supported to explore new opportunities and learn from their experiences. Consequently, children develop confidence, improve their decision-making abilities and gain a better understanding of personal safety and responsibility.

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

Staff promote a culture where safeguarding is understood as everyone’s responsibility. Children feel protected and listened to. Staff review safeguarding plans regularly and adapt them to reflect changing levels of risk, ensuring that responses remain relevant and effective. As a result, children are confident that adults will protect them, take their concerns seriously and act quickly, when they need support. For one child, positive relationships with staff have created a sense of safety and trust, enabling them to make important disclosures about their past and giving them confidence that adults take their views and experiences seriously.

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

Staff help children to understand and regulate their emotions through therapeutic and relationship-based practice. Staff implement consistent routines and boundaries, restorative discussions, clear expectations and effective de-escalation techniques that help children manage difficult emotions safely. As a result, behaviours of concern have Inspection report for children’s home: SC037309 5 reduced over time, children feel respected and understood and live in a stable and nurturing environment.

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

Staff implement highly effective safeguarding arrangements through exceptional leadership and multi-agency working. Leaders ensure reporting requirements are consistently met, safeguarding systems are effectively monitored and partnerships with safeguarding professionals remain strong and productive. Consequently, safeguarding practice is embedded throughout the home, ensuring children benefit from coordinated and effective protection.

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

Staff ensure that children’s emotional and physical wellbeing remains central to all safeguarding practice. Staff achieve this by listening carefully to children, involving them in decisions, keeping them informed and undertaking safe and well discussions following incidents or disclosures. Staff also provide planned and informal learning opportunities to help children understand topics, such as online safety, healthy relationships, consent and exploitation. As a result, children feel valued, informed and emotionally supported, while developing the knowledge and confidence needed to keep themselves safe now and in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have high aspirations for children and are unwavering in their commitment to ensuring that children’s past experiences do not limit future opportunities. Staff promote a culture characterised by warmth, ambition and advocacy, supporting children to pursue education, employment, independence and personal goals. Consequently, children make significant progress and develop the confidence and skills needed for adulthood.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have comprehensive insight into children’s experiences, progress and barriers to learning. Children’s plans are subject to thorough and regular review, with concerns addressed swiftly and effectively. Leaders’ decision-making is reflective, child-centred and demonstrates a clear focus on achieving the optimum outcomes for children. The decision to seek a more appropriate placement for one child exemplifies professionalism and a commitment to securing the best possible support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have successfully established a fully staffed, organised and resilient workforce. Leaders’ extensive investment in staff development and succession planning has strengthened leadership capacity across the home. Leaders have ensured that the management structure is versatile, effective and provides stability during periods of change or absence. This unquestionably supports continuity of care and enables the service to consistently exceed expectations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are inspirational. Staff feel valued, supported and empowered through comprehensive, reflective supervision, alongside access to therapeutic support, counselling, training and leadership guidance. Leaders actively invest in staff development and career progression, creating clear opportunities for growth and future Inspection report for children’s home: SC037309 6 leadership. Consequently, staff are highly committed, motivated and ambitious, contributing to an exceptionally positive, cohesive and high-performing team culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers demonstrate a comprehensive and realistic understanding of the home’s strengths and areas requiring further development. Leaders actively monitor practice, seek feedback from children, staff, families and professionals, and implement improvements efficiently and effectively. Leaders are forward-thinking, reflective and focused on continuous improvement. As a result, the home continues to evolve and consistently delivers high-quality care that exceeds expectations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have highly effective relationships with professionals. Staff collaborate with social workers, therapists, schools, families, and health professionals to promote positive outcomes for children. Professionals’ feedback is exceptionally positive and highlights extensive communication, transparency and child-centred practice. Consequently, partnership working is strong, productive and contributes significantly to children’s overall experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have created an exceptionally positive, cohesive and vibrant culture within the home. Staff proactively promote equality, diversity and inclusion, which are fully embedded throughout daily practice. Staff are committed, adaptable and motivated to ensure children can confidently explore their identities. Consequently, children feel accepted and valued and flourish within a nurturing and inspiring environment. Inspection report for children’s home: SC037309 7

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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: SC037309 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Caldecott House, Hythe Road, Smeeth, ASHFORD, Kent TN25 6SP

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Inspector

Steve de Souza, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC037309 9 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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