Stockport and Tameside partner to improve children’s services

This partnership, approved by the Department for Education (DfE) and Minister Janet Daby, will leverage Stockport’s extensive experience in improving children’s services.

Stockport has a proven track record of successful partnerships with the DfE, dating back to 2018. By combining this expertise with Tameside’s existing efforts, the partnership aims to significantly enhance outcomes for children and families in the borough.

The Department for Education and Children’s Commissioner Andy Couldrick interviewed a number of potential strategic partners for the role, with several strong contenders. Stockport, whose children’s services were rated as “Good” by Ofsted in 2022 had the full backing of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), who will actively support this strategic partnership, working closely with both councils to ensure its success.

Stockport's Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, Cllr Wendy Meikle said: "We are incredibly proud to have been selected by the DfE to partner with Tameside as they continue their improvement journey.

"Stockport has a long history of successful strategic partnerships and we look forward to what this opportunity will bring for both councils.

"Stockport had the full backing of our colleagues at the GMCA and we will work together to ensure the best outcomes for children."

Tameside Council Executive Leader Cllr Eleanor Wills said: “We welcome this support from our close neighbour Stockport and from our wider Greater Manchester family. The partnership, along with the recent appointment of a permanent director of children’s services Jill Colbert, is a really positive step in our improvement journey.”

Stockport is one of the most pioneering areas in the country for children and family services and for the past few years has been at the forefront of national and local innovative practice. It has taken a central role in the scale and spread of the Stockport Family Model across other parts of the region.