Achieving for Children

Stop the scroll, start the find. We’ve added a new helping hand to our AfCinfo and SEND Local Offer websites.

Whether you're looking for information on family hubs or preparing for adulthood, our new AI assistant is here 24/7 to guide you to the right page. Simply click 'ask me' in the bottom right corner.

The AI assistant features multilingual support, allowing users to communicate naturally in their preferred language.

For Kingston and Richmond: https://kr.afcinfo.org.uk/
For RBWM: https://rbwm.afcinfo.org.uk/

Kingston Council - Kingston Stronger Together London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

The new Renters’ Rights Act 2026 came into effect in England from 1 May 2026. With this in mind, Achieving for Children is looking for a dedicated housing professional who can utilise their knowledge and experience to influence and facilitate change across the private housing sector, ensuring excellent outcomes for care leavers.

This is a new and exciting opportunity to establish and develop access to private rented sector accommodation for care leavers in Kingston and Richmond. You will support young people transitioning from care to settled accommodation in adherence to statutory guidelines.

For more information and to apply: https://careers.achievingforchildren.org.uk/vacancy/-accommodation-procurement-and-development-officer-609603.html

If you are a parent or carer of a child aged 0 to 14, we want to hear from you.

Whether you are currently using early years childcare, looking for a place, or have a school-aged child attending before-school, after-school, or holiday clubs, your feedback is vital.

Achieving for Children, on behalf of The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, is looking to better understand your needs to help us plan and improve childcare as well as wraparound provision across the borough.

For more and to access the survey: https://rbwm.afcinfo.org.uk/blog_articles/5503-early-years-and-wraparound-childcare-survey

Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

Achieving for Children shares the ambition that every child and young person should be able to access a high quality, inclusive education that meets their needs, and in their local communities, wherever this is possible.

The government has recently outlined its vision through the schools white paper, 'every child achieving and thriving'. This proposes a package of bold steps to reset and reform support for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

We strongly encourage our local community to read the proposals and have their voices heard by responding directly to the SEND reform consultation. More information can be found on our website: https://rbwm.afcinfo.org.uk/reforms

Behind every diagnosis, every school meeting, and every frantic morning, there is a story that often goes unheard.

To highlight the day-to-day experiences of families with children and young people who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), AfC teams collaborated directly with parents and carers from SEND Voices RBWM, the parent carer forum for the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, to co-produce three short animations that offer a window into the heart of the SEND experience.

Here's what the stories cover:

1. Making a difference every day: an honest look at the "morning marathon", where sensory needs, transition anxiety, and the clock collide.
2. Meeting with schools: highlighting the need for transparency, preparation, and respect for a parent or carer’s peace of mind.
3. Supporting dads and male carers: exploring the specific ways dads navigate a SEND diagnosis, the shift in expectations for their child's future, and the unique ways they process the challenges and celebrations of the SEND journey.

Watch the animations on the Windsor and Maidenhead SEND Local Offer here: https://rbwm.afcinfo.org.uk/livedexperienceanimations

Information, Advice and Support - IAS Service for Windsor and Maidenhead

Achieving for Children's services have been commended by Ofsted for delivering strong, effective, and child‑centred support for children and young people in care.

Ofsted carried out a focused visit to our children’s services in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead on 13 and 14 January 2026. More specifically, inspectors focused on the quality of matching, placement and decision-making for children in care, as well as the experiences and progress of disabled children in care.

Key strengths include our commitment to kinship care, focusing on family networks and keeping siblings together whenever possible. This is matched by the "excellent progress" our young people make through the Virtual School, where robust support and regular engagement help prioritise education and future employment. Central to these outcomes are the strong, consistent relationships our social workers build with those in their care. Supported by effective governance and early emotional support, we are ensuring children have the stability, confidence, and recreational opportunities they need to truly thrive.

Commenting on the visit outcome, Lin Ferguson, Executive Director, Children's Services and Education (Windsor and Maidenhead), noted: "I am delighted that Ofsted inspectors have recognised the strength of our corporate parenting offer to our children in care and that it is making a positive difference to their lives, life chances and overall well-being."

The full visit report can be found on the Ofsted website: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/44/80546

For more from our joint press release, visit our AfC company website: https://www.achievingforchildren.org.uk/blog_articles/5457-windsor-and-maidenhead-focused-visit

February marks (9 to 15 Feb) and as part of that, we’re highlighting Tellmi: a safe, anonymous app for young people to share their feelings without judgment.

This year’s theme is ‘This is My Place’ - and for many, that safe place is Tellmi 💙

Here's how it works ⬇️

1⃣ Post anonymously
2⃣ Get support from peers
3⃣ Stay safe with human moderation

"‘I actually didn’t realise how much better this app can make someone feel. I love being able to ask my own questions and just the experience of trying to help even one other person helps me to feel happier too.’ - Tellmi User 💛

Tellmi is completely confidential and can be downloaded for free from the Apple Store or Google Play, or accessed via Tellmi's web app: https://tellmi.app/landing

Download. Offload. Feel better.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

A huge thank you to the wonderful team at the Rose Theatre for hosting our foster carer support group in the beautiful David Jacobs Room - and for generously gifting tickets for our carers and children to enjoy Cinderella on Monday.

Your kindness helps create magical moments for our families. 💙✨

It was wonderful to see so many AfC Fostering families enjoying the ice skating event hosted by LAFSE at Alexandra Gardens, Windsor.

We really got into the festive spirit! ❄️⛸️ Here’s our Natasha enjoying the day and making the most of the winter fun.

Fostering South East Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead