posted 29th August 2025
A CHILDREN’S home is helping young people develop essential life skills and make progress in education and other areas of their lives, inspectors have found.
Grading Rockhopper Children’s Services’ home Millstream Lodge in Staines as ‘Good’ in all areas, inspectors from regulator Ofsted said that it was a ‘clean, spacious and welcoming home’ where children were actively involved in decision making and choices.
The report noted: “Each child is making progress from their starting points. Children who were resistant to therapy are now engaging and other children are consistent in their school attendance. All children are developing life skills.”
There was praise for attendance at and engagement with education, which was found to be good. Relationships between young people and staff at the home were positive and the team also supported positive family relationships too, inspectors found.
The report added: “The registered manager and staff prioritise the needs of children, putting them at the centre of the care they provide. Staff are consistent in their practice and have a secure understanding of each child’s needs. The manager and staff have great hopes for children and set realistic goals to encourage children’s resilience.”
Staff at the home are ‘well-supported’ by the linked therapist for the home. This has ’supported them to grow in confidence with their practice. This has also enabled staff to build positive relationships with children and carry out effective and meaningful work with them.’
Vicki Rendall, Registered Manager at Millstream Lodge, said: “It is a privilege to support children at our home and we are thrilled that the team’s dedication to the young people has been recognised by Ofsted in this way.”
