Solihull Council’s children’s services have been rated “good” by Ofsted for the first time in the authority’s history, marking significant progress since the department came under scrutiny following the death of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes in 2020.
The inspection in November 2025 found that, while further improvement is needed, children in Solihull are now largely cared for in stable, nurturing homes with their needs met, including support for hobbies, identities, and relationships.
Ofsted noted that most decisions were appropriately overseen by senior managers and clearly recorded. However, the report highlighted that some children still experience unplanned or crisis entries into care, as efforts to prevent care admissions were not always robust. Inspectors called for continued focus on permanence planning, care planning, and systematically incorporating children’s voices.
The council said it remained committed to further improvement. Leader Councillor Karen Grinsell said: “Children and young people are at the heart of everything the council does, and we will continue to make improvements and be ambitious for the future.”
Arthur Labinjo-Hughes died in 2020 after being killed by his father, Thomas Hughes, and stepmother, Emma Tustin, who were later convicted of manslaughter and murder. A subsequent review revealed authorities missed three critical opportunities to protect him.
Ofsted inspectors concluded that leaders have a track record of delivering improvement and are committed to sustaining progress across children’s services in Solihull
