WILTSHIRE CHILDREN’S HOMES HIGHLY PRAISED BY EDUCATION WATCHDOG

Staff employed at two children’s homes in Wiltshire run by Quarriers are celebrating after being highly praised by education watchdog Ofsted.

Haresfield in Lacock, a residential project which supports five young people with learning disabilities, was described overall by the Ofsted inspector as “outstanding”. “Staff have high aspirations for young people and are innovative in ensuring they have equal access to opportunities wherever possible, challenging barriers to disability,” the Ofsted inspector wrote. “Young people flourish and make significant progress as a result of highly individualised, child-focused, care and support.”

Meanwhile, The Paddocks in Melksham, a residential project supporting five young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties, was judged by Ofsted overall in a separate inspection as being “good” with “outstanding” quality of care.

Quarriers has piloted an innovative life coach initiative at the project where a dedicated member of staff is responsible for supporting young people with learning and education. “Young people [at The Paddocks] flourish because the staff are ambitious to ensure that young people succeed,” the Ofsted inspector wrote. “This organisation has been very proactive and imaginative in finding ways to support young people with their education. Staff consistently have high aspirations; this level of support enables young people to work towards qualifications at GCSE level, gain accreditation of their life skills and attend further education at a local college.”

Chris Chart, Quarriers local service manager said: “Everyone who works at the projects is immensely proud to have been given such glowing inspections by Ofsted. It is a testament to hard work and dedication of the staff team at both Quarriers children’s homes in Wiltshire. We are particularly proud of our life coach initiative at The Paddocks – and for this to be recognised by Ofsted is powerful evidence of the scheme’s success.”

Quarriers works closely with Wiltshire Council to provide residential placements for children at both projects and Swindon Borough Council which makes referrals to Haresfield.

Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for children’s services, Cllr Lionel Grundy, said: “We are pleased that one of Wiltshire’s local providers of residential care has had such positive feedback from their Ofsted inspection.  We work in close partnership with Quarriers  to ensure that children and young people who are looked after by the local authority receive good quality care and support.”

Cllr David Renard, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for children’s services, said: “Swindon Borough Council has several young people placed at Quarriers’ Haresfield home, all of whom are very settled. Quarriers offer a high standard of care and work in partnership with the Council to deliver positive outcomes for the young people that are placed in their care.”

Quarriers has been operating in the south west of England for the past 10 years, supporting children and young people as well as adults with a learning disability in their own homes. We also run projects supporting children and families in Bath, Swindon, Lacock and Melksham.