As a member of the Council's Corporate Parenting Panel and Scrutiny Children and Young People Sub-Committee, I was delighted to hear today that Calleydown Shortbreak Children’s Home has retained its ‘good’ rating after an Ofsted inspection found that staff were ‘lovely and approachable’ and have created a safe and welcoming atmosphere for visiting children.
Calleydown is a Croydon Council-run residential home in New Addington that provides short breaks for children and young people who have severe learning difficulties.
The staff and management’s dedication to creating a fun and stimulating environment was noted in the Ofsted report, which was published this month following an inspection in March. The report said children enjoy safe and well-managed short breaks. A parent said, “my child enjoys attending very much and always has a big smile on their face”.
The report added: “Many children who attend for short breaks are non-verbal. Staff understand children’s communication styles and support them to use different communication methods. As a result, staff can respond dynamically to children’s wishes and feelings.”
The home provides service users with an adapted garden, sensory room, a ball and soft playroom, and a computer suite for the children to use.
The service was also commended for meeting all the requirements from the previous Ofsted report in November 2021.
Executive Mayor Jason Perry said: “I would like to congratulate and recognise the efforts of everyone at Calleydown Shortbreak Children’s Home on retaining their good rating in the Ofsted inspection. It’s great to hear the home is a safe space for children with severe and complex learning difficulties to enjoy a range of activities to develop their independence, as well as providing respite for parents. The positive findings reflect the hard work of our staff in this service, and their commitment to caring for our children and families. Well done Calleydown”.
