Ealing Labour failing to keep "at risk" children safe consistently says Ofsted

Ofsted reported Ealing Council urgently to the Department for Education (DfE).

Ofsted condemns “poor front door" services at Ealing Council regarding risk identification and follow-on action in relation to “at-risk” children. They have urgently referred Ealing Council to the Department for Education over inconsistent safeguarding of children, especially those at risk of domestic or sexual abuse and those liable to physical harm or neglect, many of which occur in the home environment. Ofsted criticised the lack of consistent risk and safety plans, absences of mitigations, and delays when a speedy resolution was required.

This means that Ealing Council must lay out an early action plan twenty days since issuing of the letter (dated 31 July 2026).

Ofsted found that whilst the immediate “front door” service was appropriate and timely, this approach DID NOT carry over to other teams, meaning that it puts children at unnecessary risk because of a lack of “timely and effective response”

It highlighted that URGENT ACTION was needed to ensure that children at risk were supported in a consistent and joined-up manner across a number of teams.

It also pointed to a lack of “quality, consistency and impact of management oversight and supervision” by leaders. This shows that Ealing Labour are consistently failing “at risk” children. A situation made worse by closing ten children’s centres across the borough, further reducing access points to services.

Ofsted also particularly noted that there was a lack of consistent focus on the children themselves, resulting in distraction by some parents.

Ofsted particularly singled out the limited awareness of Ealing Labour Leadership, despite them holding the reins of power for over 16 years, since 2010.

They also cited inadequate and inappropriate audit and quality assurance of their own practices – which shows how complacent Ealing Labour have been whilst in office.

Taken together, this is a damning indictment of a complacent administration in Ealing Labour who take the residents for granted.

Lib Dem Councillor Gary Malcolm, Leader of the Opposition, said: “Liberal Democrats say these delays in addressing the urgent safety of children at risk, together with lack of a consistent, coordinated and joined up approach across the council and its partners exposes the lack of leadership and complacency of Ealing Labour, who have been in power for over sixteen years!

Ofsted’s explicit mention of a lack of leadership is damning. This shows that the words of Ealing Labour do not translate into action; rather, they are empty and hollow at the expense of our children and their future.”