A children’s home in Castletown has earned an Outstanding rating from Ofsted for the eighth year in a row. The facility on Colombo Road, which provides care for six young people aged 11 to 17, received the top mark following an inspection held in February 2026.
The home is operated by Together for Children, a trust that delivers services on behalf of Sunderland City Council. Inspectors praised the team for creating a nurturing environment where staff show high aspirations for the residents and remain committed to building trusting relationships, noting that they never give up on a child.
The long-term impact of the care provided was highlighted by accounts from four former residents who spoke with inspectors. One individual who moved out 15 years ago still visits the home regularly and refers to it as home, while another who left five years ago has since taken a job with the local authority after being inspired by their experience at the home.
Michael More serves as the Home Manager at the facility, while Simon Marshall leads the broader effort as the Director for Children’s Services and Chief Executive for Together for Children. This continued success is part of a significant shift for the city, as Sunderland became the first council in England to move from an Inadequate rating in 2015 and 2018 to an Outstanding status in 2021 following a major government-led reform programme.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
