CHILDREN’S services in Camden have been rated “outstanding” by Ofsted, praising its response to refugees arriving from Afghanistan.

The report, published on Tuesday, means the council has the top-rated level of effectiveness of its provision, including for early years. Its schemes to reduce the amount of knife crime and violence were also recognised.

The report said in response to an “unprecedented” number of unaccompanied children arriving in the borough that “the concerted and agile response to the sudden influx of people from Afghanistan seeking asylum was particularly impressive and involved key partners from both inside and outside the borough”.

It added that children benefit from “good and outstanding” services.

The only criticisms were inconsistency when allegations were made against people in a position of trust, and the support from social workers to children who are under police protection.

Leader of the council Councillor Georgia Gould said: “I’m proud that the report recognises that we put children and young people at the heart of everything we do as well as the sheer hard work from our staff, who, despite the huge challenges that resulted from the pandemic, continued to provide an outstanding service.”