Surrey Children’s Services have ‘not made sufficient progress’ since the team was rated ‘inadequate’ in May, according to Ofsted inspectors.

Inspectors visited the local authority children services on September 11 and 12 for the first time since the team was judged inadequate, in a damning report published earlier this year.

In an Ofsted letter to the director of Children’s Services, published online on October 4, inspector Nick Stacey wrote: “Too many children continue to be removed from child protection plans before there is substantial evidence that the risks they are facing have reduced.

“This results in many children and families being placed on a plan for subsequent episodes. Some very young children have been the subject of repeated child protection and child in need plans.”

However, the letter also acknowledges some improvements have been made since its report, including the new management team, which was formed since the last inspection.

The letter reads: “a new, highly experienced senior management team, formed since the inspection, understands the scale of poor practice and outcomes for these highly vulnerable children.”

In the earlier report published on May 16, 2018, the leadership, management and governance of Surrey Children’s Services had been rated inadequate.

The local authority’s provision of services for “children who need help and protection” was also judged inadequate.

The damning May report read: “Too many of the most vulnerable children in the county are being left exposed to continuing harm for long periods of time before decisive protective actions are taken.”

A Surrey county council spokesman said: “We know there is much to do to ensure our services for children are the very best they can be and we fully accept these findings.

"Ofsted recognised we’ve put in place a new, highly experienced senior team to lead improvements and we’re focused on building on the work that’s already been started to ensure everything possible is done to support and care for children in Surrey.”