Outcome: Children and young people achieve their potential
Where we are now
We want Rotherham to be a great place to grow up; where all children and young people are safe, valued, and are able to achieve their aspirations. Major improvements in recent years have enabled us to retain an Ofsted ‘good’ rating for the last 8 years (since 2017). Most recently, the SEND Area Partnership achieved the highest possible grading in the SEND Inspection (Ofsted/CQC). Our ambition remains to achieve ‘outstanding’: our children, young people and their families should expect nothing less.
We work with children and their families in a restorative way. This means supporting them at the earliest opportunity, reducing the need for social care intervention and ensuring that children are engaging with education. Through joint working with our key partners, we make sure that children, young people and their families get the right support at the right time.
In 2025, Rotherham became the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture, designed and delivered by children and young people in the borough. Working in partnership with cultural organisations across Rotherham, the year-long cultural festival is providing an inclusive and exciting programme of events, which includes installations, exhibitions, festivals, sporting events, and workshops. Since 2022, Children’s Capital of Culture has rolled out a successful traineeship programme that upskills Rotherham’s young people, brings additional capacity to local culture, sport, leisure and tourism organisations, and creates a pipeline of talent into the creative sector.
Delivered 120 creative traineeships through the Children’s Capital of Culture since 2022
The Council received £3.4 million in government funding to help deliver Family Hubs and the Best Start in Life programme locally, adding value to the existing support available for families in children’s centres and early help settings. Families can access information, advice, and support across a range of areas to ensure their children thrive.
In 2024/25 79% of children were registered with a Family Hub within 6 months of birth
We put huge emphasis on supporting young people who have special educational needs or disabilities in both mainstream and specialist settings. Forest View is a repurposed post-14 specialist campus that was developed in partnership with the Nexus Multi Academy Trust. It has space for 50 pupils, extending educational opportunities for local young people in a nurturing environment whilst offering additional curriculum opportunities to equip pupils with the essential skills they need to thrive beyond school. We have also worked with mainstream schools to develop bespoke learning, sensory play areas, enhanced provisions and increased accessibility.
Created 50 new school spaces for children with special educational needs
We have also created an independent travel training offer to support young people with special educational needs or disabilities. This provides practical support and life skills, aiming to increase self-esteem, self-confidence and social skills, as well as enabling young people to travel independently, which opens up educational, employment and leisure opportunities.
Delivered Independent Travel Training to 26 children and young people in 2024/25
Having a universal offer for young people across the borough means providing them with things to do and places to go. Rotherham’s youth offer is designed to provide inclusive, fun and exciting activities, promoting the personal, educational, creative, and social development of our young people, with a focused offer for those that need it.
Delivered 208 support sessions to increase youth provision across the borough and support young people to engage with wider universal youth provision.
Council Plan consultation headlines
- The short interaction exercise highlighted that 8% of respondents wanted more services and more activities/things to do for children and young people, both in the town centre and in the outlying areas such as Maltby, Dinnington and Swinton
- At Rotherham Show, 5% of respondents wanted more support for Rotherham’s children and young people, including investment in activities, resources, services, and employment advice for teenagers. Respondents also said they wanted to see improved play areas and increased SEND support
- The Children and Young People’s Partnership Board wanted more fun things to do for teenagers, alongside improved communications regarding ‘what’s on’ and better support for transitioning to adulthood. They also set out their strength of feeling and commitment to the environment, the impacts of climate change and the importance of planning for a green future.
Increased hope and aspirations for our children and young people
We need more things for kids!
