Our Ofsted Outcomes (February 2026) – What It Means for our Children and Families

When a child is living with disabilities, additional needs, or complex medical conditions, the right care isn’t a “nice to have”. It’s everything. It’s safety. It’s stability. It’s the chance to be a child first and to experience the everyday joys of family life.

At Credo Care Fostering, that belief sits at the heart of what we do: every child deserves to experience the joys of family life, despite their additional needs.

Following our Ofsted inspection in February 2026, we’re proud to share our latest outcomes and, more importantly, what they represent for the children and young people we support, and our fostering community who make it possible.

Our Ofsted judgements (February 2026)

Ofsted made judgements across three areas:

• The effectiveness of leaders and managers: OUTSTANDING

• How well children and young people are helped and protected: OUTSTANDING

• Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: OUTSTANDING

At Credo Care Fostering, we’ll always be transparent about how we’re doing because trust matters. And because the children and families we serve deserve services that are accountable, reflective, and always striving to improve.

What Ofsted recognised

In its report, Ofsted highlighted the impact of Credo Care Fostering’s leadership and the way this translates into care for children and young people:

“Through effective, dedicated and tenacious leadership, the agency is able to provide exemplary care and improve life chances for children.”

For us, those words speak to something very practical; doing the right things, consistently, over time, especially when a child’s needs are complex and their journey can be challenging.

What this means in real life

A rating is important. But what matters most is what children experience day to day.

For the children and young people we support, this means:

• Being carefully matched with a foster family who can meet their needs

• Feeling safe, understood, and protected

• Having adults around them who advocate for them in school, in health settings, and in everyday life

• Being supported to make progress at their own pace, with patience and high expectations

• Being part of a family, not a service

And for foster carers, it means receiving wraparound support.

The voices of professionals we work alongside

We’re grateful that professionals who know our work best spoke with such warmth and conviction about Credo Care Fostering.

One social worker said:

“They would be the foster carers I would choose if I were being fostered myself.”

A headteacher with more than 20 years’ experience echoed this, describing Credo Care  Fostering as consistently enabling children to thrive.

We don’t take words like these lightly. They reflect the dedication of our foster carers, our staff team, and the wider network of professionals who work together around each young person.

How we support specialist foster carers

Caring for a child with complex needs can be deeply rewarding, and it can also be demanding. That’s why our approach is built around wraparound support.

Our foster carers receive:

• Specialist training tailored to children with disabilities and complex health needs

• A strong professional team around them

• Practical guidance and emotional support

• 24/7 support, because challenges don’t only happen in office hours

• Partnership working with local authorities, schools, and health teams

Could you foster?

Many people assume specialist fostering is only for those with prior experience. In reality, what matters most is the ability to care, to learn, and to commit, and being part of a team that supports you.

If you’ve ever felt drawn to make a difference for a child who needs more understanding, more patience, and more advocacy, we’d love to talk.

Take the next step

• Read our Ofsted outcomes: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/4/2821699
• Enquire about fostering with Credo Care: https://credocare.co.uk/contact-us/

If you’re considering a change, a family with room to care, or someone who simply feels called to foster, we’ll meet you with honesty, warmth, and support.