A council’s children’s services were rated inadequate in 2024 after a ‘deterioration in the quality of practice’

A council has been praised for “driving improvements” in its children’s services, after it was deemed inadequate in 2024. Peterborough City Council’s children’s services were rated as inadequate after an Ofsted inspection at the end of 2023.

Previously rated good in 2018, inspectors said there had been a “deterioration in the quality of practice”, following the 2023 inspection. Since then, Ofsted has been carrying out monitoring visits into the council’s children’s services.

The latest took place on February 24 where inspectors reviewed the council’s response to children experiencing neglect. Inspectors praised the council for remaining “committed and ambitious for children and families”.

They added: “There is strong corporate and political support and children’s services have benefitted from significant financial investment. The director of children’s services and the stable leadership team continue to drive improvements across the service.”

The reports also said the overall response to children experiencing neglect had improved. While there was praise for the council’s improvements, there continued to be delays in responding to some children in the multi-agency safeguarding hub due to “capacity issues”.

During the visit, inspectors said staff made “appropriate referrals” to children’s services for children requiring help and protection due to potential neglect. Social workers were also praised about their “robust analysis of children’s needs” when looking at the functioning of a family.

When dealing with children out of hours, the commissioned emergency duty team (EDT) were praised for having an “effective interface”. Social workers were also praised for children having “positive and enduring relationships” with them.

Inspectors also said action was taken “appropriately” when children continued to experience harm due to neglect from their parents. The report added that leaders had focused on recruitment and retention to “improve the stability of the workforce”.

Inspectors said: “This is showing promising results, with some social workers converting from agency to permanent posts, citing a positive work environment as informing their decisions.”

Councillor Katy Cole, cabinet member for children and young people at Peterborough City Council, said: “We are pleased with the outcome of this latest monitoring visit which acknowledges the ongoing progress we have made to achieve better outcomes for all children.

“We remain committed and ambitious for children and families and we continue to drive improvements across the service, including for children who have experienced potential neglect.

“I want to thank practitioners and staff for their hard work and continued dedication to the children and families of Peterborough. Our administration is fully focussed on working collaboratively and effectively to continue to improve this vital service.

“As we now build to our next full ILACs inspection this Labour led coalition is determined to make the changes needed to ensure all children in this city thrive, are safe and able to succeed in life.”

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The incident took place on Rhyl beach, Denbighshire where the “special lady” was rescued

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Emergency services freed a woman from sinking sand on a beach, before the tide rose worryingly higher. The incident took place on Rhyl beach, Denbighshire where emergency services reported at one point, the water ‘came up to her waist’.

Rhyl’s RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) inshore lifeboat rushed to the scene at 9pm on Friday evening (May 29). The woman was reported to be stranded in soft sand off Splash Point in the resort, according to NorthWalesLive.

An RNLI Rhyl spokesperson said: “The inshore lifeboat was launched within minutes. Once arrived on scene, the crew found the casualty to be trapped in the sand with the incoming tide now around their waist.

“The lifeboat was brought alongside the casualty and crew put them in a lifejacket. A crewmember supported the casualty on their back, which popped their feet out of the sand.

“The casualty was recovered into the inshore lifeboat, and brought back to the lifeboat station for a check-over and warm up. Rhyl Coastguard Rescue Team was also tasked to the incident.”

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Quick to thank the RNLI crew, on social media, was the woman’s mum from Rhyl. Another person added: “Thank you so very much for saving a very special lady.”

People stuck in soft sand are advised to remain calm and not struggle as this can worsen the problem. While leaning back to distribute your weight, gently wiggling your legs can let water loosen the sand’s suction.

Meanwhile, RNLI Holyhead responded to its fourth shout of the half-term break when two jetskiers became stuck on sandbanks near Traeth Penrhos beach. Initial reports suggested one jetskier might be injured.

Other information indicated they were in fact stranded near the Stanley Embankment (Valley Cob). Heading to Traeth Penrhos, RNLI Holyhead’s inshore boat was joined by local cliff rescue teams.

An RNLI spokesperson said: “On reaching the location, it was found that there were two jetskiers, and no injuries. The casualties had been stuck on sandbanks – however they had managed to re-float and were starting to head back to Llanfwrog (also known as Sandy Beach) where they had come from.

“Suitable safety advice was given, and the casualties then headed back to Llanfwrog, where they were being met by the Holyhead volunteer Coastguard team.”

RNLI Holyhead Lifeboat Station said water sports enthusiasts should always wear a suitable lifejacket or buoyancy aid. They should also have a means of calling for help.

The station added: “We’d like to remind everyone to be aware of the tides and layout of our local waters – it can be very difficult to judge the depth of water in certain locations.”

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Belfast-based designer Rebekah Murphy is the youngest person showing at Ireland Fashion Week 2026 and has just finished her first year of Textile design and Fashion at the Belfast School of Art, with her own brand in the works for the summer.

Speaking with RSVP Live, she discusses the struggles of finding affordable studio space, her childhood in Belfast, and the epicentre of Irish fashion.

Growing up in Belfast, it’s clear the area has had an effect on her work: “Living here post everything that has happened here has influenced my work. I feel like people in Belfast have a way of storytelling that is quite nuanced, that they don’t necessarily tell things quite heavily.

“They like to pick up the light parts of it. So when my mum or my dad was telling me stories about growing up, there would be this really heavy day, and they would say, ‘but it’s okay because we went to the pub after’ or something like that. They picked up the fun parts. So I try to do that a lot with my work, do the kind of lighter, more quirky bits of storytelling rather than focusing on the heavy thing that it might actually be about.”

Rebekah works from her bedroom, as there is a stark amount of studio spaces in the country: “The price of rent in Ireland at the moment is insane to try to get a studio. My best friend and I, she’s a painter. She just graduated. So, we were looking at a studio together, but it’s totally not feasible even with two people.”

The designer was set on becoming a painter with her uni applications all sorted until she met fellow designer Rion Hannora at Dublin’s RDS for a school trip: “This is such a tangible space for design. It was the first time I’ve seen Irish design up close. On the bus journey home to Belfast. I pulled out of three of the uni options I had been accepted for and applied for a foundation year instead because I was like, ‘Right, I like that, but I can’t sew.’

“I have no knowledge about this. I was daunted by applying just for fashion. I did a foundation year last year, and I loved it. I fell in love with the fashion.

“I got to actually work with Rion on her Dublin fashion show, and it was class.

“She’s insane, and she’s so down to earth, that was one of the things that made me realise people actually talk to you here. This is a real community down here, and I always thought there’s nothing like this happening in Belfast.”

Witnessing Belfast’s fashion scene first-hand, Rebekah says, “it has really, really taken off.”

“I’ve spoken to one of my mentors, Lucinda Graham, about it, and she was really like, ‘You’re touching on something that’s on the top of everybody’s tongue at the moment,’ that Dublin is this kind of false epicentre of fashion.”

“Being part of Ireland Fashion Week this year, I’ve got to meet so many people from every corner of Ireland. Without Ireland Fashion Week, the opportunity for us to meet would have been nil. So, it’s really great to have this kind of hub where we can all meet, chat, and get to know each other as designers from every part, not just Dublin designers.”

Rebekah has experimented with all sorts of pieces that always tie into some aspect of Irish history, including her Punt Ties.

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“So I took inspiration from the punts, going out of currency, and the women being legally guaranteed entry into the pub in 2004. I wasn’t old enough to remember, but my mum and dad would still recall it even with Euros. They always had a punt purse that they kept in the car for whenever they were going down south or anything like that. So that was another weird thing that was in my ear whenever I was designing that.”

She also experimented with making bikinis and briefs, yet not with the typical material, but with an old football, which was a “total nightmare” to craft.

“Growing up, there was never a night you walked into the living room, in the kitchen, and the TV didn’t have football on. It used to do my head, and I was like, ‘Wow, we’re still watching football. You don’t even support these teams.’

“We had a ball in our back garden since we were kids, and we never used to play football or anything like that. I used to think it was so silly. It was obviously quite worn and torn to shreds, and I am a firm believer that my idea of sustainability is that everything you need exists in the world. There is no point in buying crazy fabrics or anything like that to communicate what you’re trying to do.

“So, I cut up this football, asking, ‘Is anybody going to use this? ‘No.’ ‘Right, okay.’ I took it into my room, and I cut it up, and the leather is really thick. These specific footballs also have a kind of ‘plasticky coating’. I think it’s for rain and similar things. So I cut it up and made a bikini out of it.

“I remember my sister opening the door, and she was like, ‘What are you doing?’ And I replied, ‘It’s a football bikini.’ And she just said, ‘Okay.’ But that was for my collection last year. which was about kind of reminiscence of girlhood, and kind of what I remember through rose-tinted glasses, you always remember that, that’s the funny part of how I felt about it.

“My collection last year was all around the parts of a memory that you thought were really flippant at the time. I quit dance, and that was part of the collection last year, but I only really remember the nice aspects of it. I was really flippant about it at the time and didn’t want anything to do with dance. So last year, I was living in that memory, picking out the bits I remembered that were really positive about dance.”

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Following current attempts to bring back Star Fox from the brink of obscurity, a reader suggests pairing it up with another of Nintendo’s forgotten franchises.

Back in the Wii U era there was a weird rumour going around that there was going to be a crossover between Star Fox and Metroid. I think it was just before the launch of the Wii U, so before they announced Star Fox Zero. It was odd because any rumour about Nintendo stuff is rare and also because it didn’t seem to make much sense.

Metroid is about the most serious franchise Nintendo has got (which isn’t saying much, admittedly) whereas Star Fox is a bunch of cuddly animals having a star war. Back then neither franchise was in a good state and things haven’t really got better for either since.

It was one step forward for Metroid Dread and two steps back with Metroid Prime 4 and, well… we’ll see how the Star Fox 64 remake does. Although everyone already likes that game, so the real question is can Nintendo make a new Star Fox game that is both good and popular?

The rumour at the moment is that if the remake goes well then Nintendo will greenlight a bigger budget new game. That makes logical sense but it also kind of implies they’ve already got an idea ready to go. I doubt we’ll find out what that is unless they want us to, but my idea is to combine Star Fox with another franchise, but not Metroid.

I’d say that the other most popular Nintendo franchise that doesn’t seem to have much chance of coming back at the moment, and hasn’t had a new game in years, is F-Zero. Hardcore fans will know there is already a connection, because someone called James McCloud (Fox McCloud’s dad) is in F-Zero GX and drives a vehicle that looks a bit like an Arwing.

As I understand it, he’s a homage and not meant to be the same character (he’s a human with a weird haircut, not a fox) but I don’t think you’d need to change anything to say that Star Fox and F-Zero take place in the same universe. And even if you didn’t the Super Mario Galaxy movie already had Fox go to the Mario universe, so it doesn’t seem like Nintendo has much of a problem with that type of thing.

In terms of what kind of game this crossover would be, I would take another idea that I think is fairly common (or at least I’ve seen it mentioned a couple of times in the Inbox) of expanding Star Fox into an Elite style space trading game.

I think this is an excellent idea and I think it’d be even better if you had a crossover with F-Zero, because then you’d have stuff to do on ground level, when you land your spaceship. Since I can’t imagine Nintendo wanting everyone to be running around and shooting each other.

Captain Falcon is meant to be a bounty hunter (a Metroid and F-Zero crossover also would’ve made more sense than Star Fox and Metroid) so there’s another gameplay hook, as the Star Fox team seem to be basically mercenaries already.

So you’d have space combat, car racing, and space exploration and trading. It’s not something Nintendo has done before – which you can’t say about most genres – and it’s not something that’s common in general nowadays.

It’s also a good way to solve the problem of what to do with both franchises. Not enough people are interested in playing F-Zero nowadays and anything that’s not just a linear space shooter has never worked for Star Fox. But open things up a bit, make the game more of a sandbox and I think you’ve got your answer.

By reader Rocky

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

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Before their performance, the group described Clarkson as their “biggest cheerleader” and added they “couldn’t thank him enough”, while judge KSI, real name Olajide Olatunji, said he wanted to add their original song, This Is Home, to his Spotify playlist after they performed it.

RE: Mr Zimmott’s letter and match day travel. Many supporters do come to matches on foot and bike.

They would have been helped if a crossing had been installed sooner from Anthea Drive to the path to Vangarde.

This was agreed after a site visit with council officers and local Lib Dem councillors nearly 4 years ago.

In terms of bus travel we had a series of meetings with council officers before the stadium opened and special buses were agreed from around the city – Haxby, Acomb etc. Then Covid stopped bus travel and these buses didn’t happen. Time to get them started.

The success of City and the Knights is brilliant for the clubs, supporters and our city but local people should not have to worry whether emergency vehicles can get through on their street.

We have reported the concerns of residents a number of times since crowds increased from 3,000 to over 6,000.

The solution already applies on part of New Lane where parking is restricted on match days.

If the will is there this could be replicated on the streets where local people want them by the start of next season.

We want everyone to enjoy the success of City and the Knights without putting local people in danger.

Cllr Keith Orrell

Liberal Democrat councillor for Huntington and New Earswick

—

Some thoughts on our Labour government…

AS this country deteriorates into oblivion, what hope for the next generation when we gave a Government who instead of working hard to promote employment is happier to see these youngsters sit on the settee all day being paid sufficient benefit payments to avoid seeking work.

Thank goodness we live in a society which embraces “freedom of speech” for were we to live under tight state control the damning report compiled by Alan Millburn concerning our Governments mishandling of the “welfare state” would never have seen the light of day.

It is little wonder the opinion polls are showing the public’s distaste for socialist policies. Hidden within every one is a desire for them to take ownership of other people’s success achieved through years of hard work to give to those who simply do not wish to contribute to society.

And finally, the previous Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair launches a scathing attack on socialist policies being introduced by Keir Starmer’s government. Is this a prelude to him announcing he is applying to join the Conservative Party?

Peter Rickaby,

Moat Way,

Brayton,

North Yorkshire

—

Please define ‘bolder’

FOLLOWING Labour’s disastrous local election results, Luke Charters MP says the answer is for Labour to be “bolder” but he doesn’t specify exactly what this means.

He mentions the Renters Act that is having a detrimental impact on housing availability, the provision of “Oyster” style transport cards that are hardly an essential necessity and Breakfast Clubs. But other than that he explains nothing.

So is this “boldness” yet more taxation and stifling regulation that is already crippling the economy?

Is it more financial burdens on businesses that making employing people so onerous that jobs are being lost every day.

Is it a continuation of uncontrolled illegal migration that is costing taxpayers a fortune while the character of our towns and cities change beyond recognition and essential services continue to crumble by being overwhelmed?

If the MP for outer York could clarify exactly what he means by more “boldness” from Labour it would help us all enormously at the ballot box.

Matthew Laverack,

Lord Mayors Walk,

York

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As Cuba heads into another month of blackouts due to the near-total fuel blockade imposed by the US, many say their lives now revolve around these power outages.

For Ana Rosa Romero, a 70-year-old widow living in a high-rise building, the constant power cuts have transformed her daily life.

BBC’s Will Grant spoke to her about the impact of the blackouts.

Video edited by Blanca Estrada

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Winning the Champions League was so nice, Paris Saint-Germain had to do it twice.

PSG became back-to-back European champion by beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties in a dramatic final in Budapest that ended 1-1 after extra time on Saturday.

“It’s incredible,” captain Marquinhos said. “From the very first day of this season, the coach said it’s hard to win, and winning twice is even more difficult. So we all had to get back to work. That was the mentality.”

Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes fired the last of his team’s penalties over the bar to hand PSG the shootout win.

The French giant is only the second team to retain the trophy in the modern era after all-time king of Europe Real Madrid.

Luis Enrique became a three-time winner as a coach and has moulded a team that is simply too good even for the best the continent has to offer. That includes an Arsenal team that won the Premier League last week and topped the first stage of the Champions League with a perfect winning record, finishing 10 points and 10 places ahead of PSG.

That mattered little in Puskas Arena as PSG reaffirmed its status as the dominant force in European soccer.

“It’s even more special because we knew before the match how difficult it would be,” Luis Enrique said. “I think it’s deserved over the course of the whole season, even if the final was very closely contested.”

After demolishing Inter Milan 5-0 in last year’s final, PSG endured a tougher foe as Arsenal sat deep and relied on the best defense in the competition.

PSG dominated possession but created little after going behind to a Kai Havertz goal in the sixth minute. It took an Ousmane Dembélé penalty in the 65th to level the score and take the final to extra time for the first time in 10 years.

PSG coach in elite company

By going back to back, Luis Enrique achieved what his good friend Pep Guardiola could not after winning Champions Leagues at Barcelona and Manchester City. Luis Enrique joined Carlo Ancelotti, Bob Paisley, Zinedine Zidane and Guardiola in an elite group of coaches with at least three European Cups.

The next target will be to emulate Madrid’s three in a row under Zidane from 2016-18. And with a starting lineup in Budapest with an average age of less than 24, Luis Enrique has built a team that has the potential to dominate for years.

“It’s crazy, it’s crazy. We’re going to enjoy it first, and after we’re going to work and work again because we want more. We are really hungry. We are a young team, and we know we are really ambitious. So next season we have to go again,” Désiré Doué told broadcaster TNT Sports.

Having waited 22 years to get its hands back on the Premier League trophy, Arsenal’s wait in Europe goes on.

This was its 226th game in the European Cup or Champions League without lifting the trophy. No other team has played so many without being champion.

“First of all you have to go through that pain, digest it and then turn it into fuel and improve and reach a different level because it will demand a different level with the quality that is around Europe,” manager Mikel Arteta said.

“I want to congratulate PSG because they are, in my opinion, the best team in the world. What they are able to do with the ball, individual actions, I haven’t seen it (before).”

Arsenal comfortable defending

There were times when it looked as though Arsenal’s Champions League losing streak would be snapped. Especially when PSG looked so short of ideas after going behind to Havertz’s breakaway early goal.

By scoring so early the tone was set and Arsenal was comfortable sitting back and soaking up pressure. PSG struggled to find openings and looked edgy in possession.

On an evening that kicked off with a pre-match show by rock band The Killers that sounded off in the acoustics of the stadium, PSG also fell a little flat and registered just one shot on target in the first half.

It was given a way back into the final when Cristhian Mosquera brought down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the box and referee Daniel Siebert pointed to the spot.

Ballon d’Or holder Dembélé made no mistake, firing low to the left as Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya dived the wrong way.

Red flares were lit by PSG fans, likely as much in relief as celebration.

There were rare chances for PSG to win in regulation. Kvaratskhelia hit the post in the 77th after a rapid breakaway and substitute Bradley Barcola wasted another opportunity to seal it at the death when firing wide.

Arsenal was limited to a 24.7% possession average — the lowest in a final since records began in 2004, according to stats provider Opta. But Arteta’s dogged and determined team pushed PSG all the way, even in the shootout.

Eberechi Eze missed an earlier spot kick for Arsenal but Raya saved from Nuno Mendes to keep the score level.

Lucas Beraldo converted the last of PSG’s spot kicks, meaning Gabriel had to convert to take it to sudden death. But he blasted high over the bar into a section of PSG fans, who erupted in celebrations along with their new two-time champion team.

It was a familiar sight as Marquinhos got his hands on the trophy for a second time and raised it aloft in the center of the field as gold confetti and fireworks exploded around the team.

French President Emmanuel Macron posted his congratulations on X: “A new star is shining over Paris!” and told PSG players they were “making all of Europe dream. France is proud.”

___

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Almost 100 homes in Coalsnaughton have been evacuated because of “ground movement”.

Displaced residents in a former mining village have been told they won’t be able to return to their homes until Thursday at the earliest. Nearly 100 homes in Coalsnaughton, near Tillicoultry in Clackmannanshire, have been evacuated in recent days following concerns around ground movement.

Clackmannanshire Council have now said residents will need to wait at least another five days to find out if their homes will be safe to return to.

Council leader Ellen Forson said it would not be fair to speculate ahead of the findings of initial investigations by the Mining Remediation Authority, which are expected next week.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, she added that her “heart went out” to residents and that she appreciated the situation had been “absolutely horrendous”.

Cllr Forson said: “It is very challenging. We are a small local authority area and there are limited resources, particularly in housing.

“However, we have been trying to provide support and working with partners to find alternative accommodation, mostly around the Forth Valley area, as well as providing extra support through food, supplies, childcare and care for pets.

Council staff and local community groups have rallied round to support the people affected as best they can and Cllr Forson praised them for working “really, really hard”.

She added: “We’ve had council officers cancel leave and miss family occasions to provide support on the ground, and that is very much appreciated.”

Residents of 30 homes were first evacuated after shuddering was felt on Monday, May 18. More homes were evacuated earlier this week as investigations into the ground movement continued.

Some neighbouring residents have also been asked to leave their homes temporarily as utilities have been cut off until the cause of the ground movement can be investigated.

However, some, including Ross MacPhee, have decided to return to their homes regardless of the warnings. He said a lack of information about the situation meant he was “frustrated”.

He said: “They’re asking us to uproot our lives, move elsewhere, and they’re not telling us any information at all,” he said.

“The lack of information is what’s most annoying for us, I think.

“I feel very confused, very frustrated – quite sad as well. We’ve only been in our house for about six months and, more than anything, I think it’s very much soured my opinion of the council in this area.”

Other residents have told how they were hurried out of their homes as emergency services moved in to investigate the ground movement. Many have had to find temporary accommodation elsewhere after staying at Devonvale Hall where emergency provision was put on in the immediate aftermath.

A spokesperson for Clackmannanshire Council said it would “continue to keep residents updated as further information becomes available”.

The said: “The evacuation is being carried out in a controlled manner and residents are being supported by council officers and partner agencies throughout the process.

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“The priority of all local resilience partners continues to be the safety and welfare of everyone involved, and our officers remain in the local area to provide guidance and support to residents during what we appreciate is a worrying and uncertain time.”

Justice Secretary Neil Gray has held a meeting with Clackmannanshire Council officials and the local MSP to “discuss what support the Scottish government could provide to those affected through what is a deeply distressing time”.

He said: “Investigations are being carried out by the Mine Remediation Authority to establish the source of the subsidence and we await its findings.

“The Scottish government is actively engaging with the local authority and relevant partners.”

Data from the Mine Remediation Authority shows that an entrance to one of the former mines in the area was located on what is now Dunmoss View.

The authority said it work was continuing “at pace” to establish the cause of this incident.

A spokesperson said: “Our priority remains the safety of residents, our people and partners, and we will provide further updates as more information becomes available.”

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