Surrey Charity Celebrates ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted for Child Respite Care

Published on: 13 Feb, 2026
Updated on: 13 Feb, 2026

By Esme Campbell

A Surrey children’s home was awarded an “Outstanding” Ofsted rating for the fourth year in a row, setting a high standard for the county.

Cherry Trees charity, a respite home for children and young people with complex disabilities, was praised by inspectors for its high quality of care and staff’s “thorough understanding” of the children.

The East Clandon charity was in the 12 per cent of children’s homes to be rated “Outstanding” in the 2024/25 financial year.

Clare Colborne-Baber, a Chief Operating Officer at the charity, said: “Every individual has the right to happy experiences.

“Being able to provide that to the children and their families in a safe, non-judgemental way is really key.

“The carers do their very utmost to give them the best possible experiences they can.”

The Ofsted report remarked how children’s wishes and feelings are centred at the heart of Cherry Trees’ care, with Clare noting how important it is to try to give each child a voice.

A child using ‘eye-gaze’ technology to communicate

The charity has a high-tech device that enables people to communicate through eye control, giving non-verbal children extra channels to express themselves.

Understanding every child is achieved on an individualised basis, Clare said, reflecting the home’s “Child First Disability Second” ethos.

She explained: “The team goes that extra mile to ensure that each child has a very bespoke experience.

“It’s very much giving empowerment to the children, and the team is always really keen on finding the best way of communicating with each child.”

The home was rated “Outstanding” across all three categories, inspecting the young people’s experiences and progress, the quality of care and leadership and management.

Cherry Trees’ Chief Executive Officer, Claire Bryant, said: “I want all children with complex disabilities and their families to benefit from the type of outstanding care that we provide, to realise that life isn’t just about survival – with the right support, they can thrive.”

The announcement follows recent news that Cherry Trees will be opening a second children’s respite care home in Hampshire.