A residential children’s home is providing outstanding support which enables children to make “exceptional progress in all areas of their lives”, inspectors have found.
Crescent House, a home which supports four young people and which is part of Keys Group, was graded outstanding in all areas following a recent inspection by Ofsted.
Inspectors praised the team and said: “Staff nurture children well and as a result make outstanding progress from their starting points. For example, one child, whose only focus was gaming and rarely left his bedroom, is now attending education, has a part-time job and regularly goes out and sees friends.”
They also praised staff’s support in helping children attain academic achievement saying “Staff help children understand the importance of education. As a result, children are achieving academically and are highly aspirational about their future. During the COVID–19 pandemic, staff have encouraged children to continue with their studies.
“One teacher commented that one of the children had completed more work than anyone else in the class. Another child has achieved A and A* in their GCSEs. Other children, who were previously reluctant to attend education, are now attending and progressing.”
There was praise also for staff’s approach to keeping children positively occupied and busy during COVID-19 which inspectors called “innovative and creative” and also noted staff helped children try new activities and widen their social experiences.
Staff’s commitment to supporting children to become independent has seen one take driving lessons and three to find and maintain part-time work. This “exceptional support”, inspectors said, means that children are “prepared well for the next steps in their lives”.
The report added: “Children receive high-quality care from knowledgeable staff.
Children are at the centre of everything in this home and feel valued and respected.”
Pauline Paterson, Director of Quality and Regulation at Keys Group, said: “Our aim always is to provide outstanding care for children and young people, and we’re thrilled that the hard work and commitment of the team at Crescent House, and the positive outcomes children there experience, has been recognised this way by Ofsted with a judgement of ‘outstanding’ in all areas.
“The outstanding grade, and all of the wonderful comments from Ofsted, are well deserved.”
