During 2025/26, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service attended 58 chimney fires, with most occurring during the colder months when fireplaces, log burners and solid fuel appliances are used more frequently.

Many householders and businesses, despite being safety conscious, may forget to have their chimney or flue swept or inspected before using their fire when the weather changes.

They may also be unaware of the need to check first floor connections to chimneys, where debris and dust can accumulate in redundant upper floor fireplaces.

Andy Ford, Safety Manager for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “All chimneys and flues should be regularly cleaned and checked to ensure they’re free from debris, soot and other blockages, such as birds’ nests, and in full working order ready to use safely when the weather gets colder.

“A blocked or defective chimney can cause both chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisonings so it’s very important to employ a professionally qualified chimney sweep.

“If the worst should happen, working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms can give you an early warning. Make sure you have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and test them monthly; and don’t keep this advice to yourself – please, pass it on.”

Guidance for owners of wood burners includes not stacking logs next to the fire; they might look nice, but there is a risk of accidental ignition through radiated heat over time.

Care should be taken to use the correct fuel recommended for a fire or stove; firewood and fuel should be stored outside, away from buildings, with wood burners never left unattended when lit.

Residents are also being asked to always use a fire guard to protect against flying sparks and hot embers, making sure embers are under control and properly put out before going to bed.

Andy added: “Never be complacent when it comes to fire safety in the home, now is the time to get your chimney cleaned.”

Further information and advice is available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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Advice can be found at oxme.info and on the National Careers Service’s website, or through its helpline 0800 100 900.

Young people interested in apprenticeships can visit a number of websites for further information: oxme, Gov.UK or UCAS.

While those who haven’t got the grades needed for their planned next steps and may be rethinking their college or sixth form options, the council encourages them to speak to their school’s careers officer, form tutor or head of year.

Students can also contact Activate Learning, Abingdon and Witney College or Henley College if further education is a preferred option.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Well done to students who have received their desired results. However, regardless of how well you’ve done, the big question will now be ‘what do I do next?’

“Some students will have decided; perhaps staying in education, beginning an apprenticeship or other type of training, or straight into a job. However, for others, it will be a time of reflection and possibly a need to adjust plans.

“Luckily, there are many choices, and support is available through a number of services that offer help for young people.

“I’d like to thank the many educational professionals who have taught and mentored our young people during their time in Oxfordshire’s schools and colleges.”

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Help is on offer about continuing in education to seeking employment or training from key and trusted organisations.

Advice can be found at oxme.info and on the National Careers Service’s website or through its helpline 0800 100 900.

Young people interested in apprenticeships can visit a number of websites for further information: oxme, Gov.UK or UCAS.

While those who haven’t got the grades necessary for higher education or their university of choice, there are options. Students can access key advice from UCAS or can read the education hub blog on Gov.UK.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Results day is always a big moment for young people and regardless of how well you’ve done, for many the big question will now be ‘what do I do next?’

“Some students will have a clear path forward. However, for others, it will be a time of reflection, perhaps adjusting plans, or for some who decided to have a break from the moment they finished their final lesson or exam; now it’s time to consider their options.

“Luckily, there are many choices available, from higher education, like university, to beginning work, starting a career on an apprenticeship or embarking on a training programme.

“Support is available through a number of services that offer help for young people.

“I’d like to thank the many educational professionals who have taught and mentored our young people during their time in Oxfordshire’s schools and colleges.”

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One fire engine, crewed by four firefighters, and one 4x4 vehicle crewed by two firefighters are being sent to assist Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service in responding to the incident.

While these resources are deployed, arrangements remain in place to maintain emergency response across Oxfordshire as normal.

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The announcement came days after the council wrote to the government asking for financial help for the sector following the local authority’s reluctant decision to raise prices of the multi-operator Oxfordshire-wide daily and weekly MyBus ticket.

The government’s decision to increase the cap from £2 to £3 from 1 January 2025 had a direct impact on the need to increase the MyBus prices. It meant that the savings offered by the MyBus tickets became more attractive, increasing sales, while also increasing the cost per ticket to the council.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Following my letter calling for the £2 bus fare cap to be reinstated, I am delighted that the government has listened and reversed the previous Prime Minister's decision. This will make bus travel more affordable for thousands of people.

“If we are serious about tackling climate change and reducing Oxfordshire's chronic congestion, buses must be an affordable, convenient and comfortable alternative to the car. Reinstating the £2 fare cap is a welcome step in the right direction.

“There is still more to do. We need continued investment in more frequent services, better reliability and improved infrastructure, which we are working tirelessly with our operators on delivering through the Oxfordshire Enhanced Partnership, if we are to encourage many more people to choose the bus. But making fares cheaper is an important part of that journey.”

Because the new fare cap won't come in until 1 January 2027, Oxfordshire County Council is unable to immediately reduce the MyBus fare but will now be able to review the pricing structure next year.

The previous national £2 fare cap, which began on 1 January 2023, was popular in Oxfordshire with nine county bus providers taking part in the scheme.

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Road closures will be in place on sections of Bridge Street East, Bridge Street West, Concord Avenue, Cherwell Street, George Street, Britannia Road and Lower Cherwell Street.

Vehicles will need to follow a diversion route around the works area, but pedestrian access will be maintained, with clearly signed routes. Emergency services have been notified.

No work will take place on Saturday 11 July or Sunday 12 July, when the road will reopen with temporary traffic lights in operation. 

All work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled. Once resurfacing is complete, the new traffic signals will be tested, while temporary traffic lights will continue to operate at the junctions until all work is finished.

Notes to editors

For more information about the improvements, visit the Oxfordshire County Council Cherwell Street bus improvements webpage where a diversion map is also available.

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Expansion of Oxford’s Mabel Prichard Special School will be achieved by remodelling and refurbishing the recently vacated foundation stage accommodation at Orchard Meadow Primary School, which is co-located on the same site.

The project will deliver three new classrooms, pupil toilets, a group room, and ancillary accommodation. Plans also include the creation of an improved entrance, office space, staff room, and supporting accommodation, and will provide additional car parking and enhanced highway access to the school.

A full business case is due to be submitted for approval by the county council’s cabinet in August 2026, with an estimated total capital budget exceeding £2m.

Mabel Prichard Special School is managed by the Gallery Trust; they are delivering this project using funding provided by the county council.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “We’re determined to continue investing in services for Oxfordshire’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) children and this commitment is reflected in these exciting plans for Mabel Prichard Special School.

“This will be a partnership approach, working with families, the academy trust, and communities to make a difference to the way children and young people get the support they deserve to help them thrive.”

Pupils and staff at Grove Church of England Primary School are set to benefit from a £9.4 million investment in new buildings and improvements.

Grove CE Primary School is an academy managed by Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust, who are delivering this project using funding provided by the county council.

A major building project will expand the school’s capacity from 210 to 315 primary pupil places, plus 39 new nursery places.

The budget for this project was approved in an outline business case in June 2025, with the full business case scheduled for consideration within a few months’ time.

The project will be managed by the Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust, which is responsible for the school, working in partnership with the county council and David Wilson Homes, who is delivering a new housing development in the north of Grove.

Councillor Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, said: “These exciting plans for Grove Church of England Primary School are designed to provide high quality teaching and learning environments for children by adding nearly 150 places for primary and nursery pupils to meet future needs, supported by our partner Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust. We are also progressing ambitious proposals for Faringdon Community College.”

The new school building will consist of seven classrooms, a hall and kitchen, main entrance reception area, and administrative and staff accommodation. The existing building will be remodelled to create accommodation for nursery and reception aged pupils.

David Wilson Homes will provide the council with additional land to facilitate this school expansion. On the additional land will be a full-sized all-weather sports pitch, and a new main entrance into the school site with parking for staff and visitors.

Work on the new building is due to start in February 2027.

Faringdon Community College is the third educational establishment for investment, with proposals to replace four temporary buildings – eight classrooms – with permanent accommodation, which will be delivered in two phases.

Faringdon Community College is a secondary school academy, managed by Cambrian Learning Trust. Cambrian Learning Trust is delivering the project using funding provided by the county council.

Phase one will be a two storey teaching block with seven classrooms, three group rooms, offices, toilets, and a large first floor circulation and breakout area.

The second phase of the project will be a student centre with secure student reception, five work rooms, three staff meeting rooms, offices and toilets.

Construction is due to start later in 2026.

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Oxfordshire County Council’s traffic filter trial will operate in a similar way to the temporary congestion charge, with the filters being at the same six locations and a permit scheme in place. The trial, under an experimental traffic regulation order, can last for up to a maximum of 18 months. 

The key difference is that, from 14 September, car drivers will no longer be able to pay the £5 congestion charge to go through the traffic filters. Cars with permits and all other vehicles can travel through the filters at all times. However, with Botley Road open, everywhere in Oxford will be accessible by car without driving through a traffic filter. You may need to take an alternative route, but often you won’t.  

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport said: “The traffic filter trial is designed to further reduce congestion in the city, creating a healthier, more accessible and attractive Oxford. By removing the option for drivers to pay, it aims to further reduce through-traffic and encourage more people to take public transport or walk, cycle and wheel. 

“A six-month public consultation will open on 14 September, and we invite residents and businesses to give feedback on how the scheme is working for them. 

“Your feedback will help us shape our future plans. We are listening and learning as we develop the best long-term solution for traffic in and around Oxford.” 

Most people with congestion charge permits don’t need to take any action as their permits will be automatically transferred to traffic filter permits. 

The council is contacting all permit holders before the trial starts to explain what will happen next and if they need to take any action. 

For people who don’t yet have a permit, applications are now open online. Residents in the Oxford permit area are eligible for 100 day passes per year, while residents in the Oxfordshire permit area are eligible for 25 day passes per year. 

About the traffic filter trial 

• The traffic filter trial was approved by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet in November 2022, but implementation has been delayed because of the closure of Botley Road, due to Network Rail’s improvements to Oxford Rail Station.
• At each traffic filter site, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will monitor and enforce the restrictions. There will be no physical barriers. Cars without a valid permit driving through the filters will receive a fine of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days).
• During the first six months of the traffic filter trial, the council will send a warning notice the first time any car goes through a traffic filter without using a permit, instead of sending a penalty charge notice.

 The locations and operating times of the traffic filters will be the same as the temporary congestion charge:

• Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way - Monday to Saturday - At peak times between 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm
• Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement’s Street and Thames Street - Monday to Sunday - 7am to 7pm

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Oxfordshire’s fire and rescue crews attended four major wildfires last year, three the year before and seven in 2023, each incident covering at least 10,000m2. They were also called to many smaller outdoor fires, which had potential to become much bigger incidents if they hadn’t been extinguished quickly.

During dry weather it only takes a small spark to set alight grass, shrubs or litter, and flames can quickly get out of control becoming major incidents that can put lives and property in danger.

Deb Forder, Safety Manager for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Please be careful, act responsibly and follow our important safety guidance.

“If you’re going to be out and about in the countryside, please make sure you don’t discard your cigarette or throw it from your car; take your rubbish home as even something like a glass bottle can start a fire if it heats dry grassland by reflecting the sun’s rays.

“When using a barbeque, ensure it's in good working order and follow the instructions. It’s important to make sure any gas pipes are in good condition and connected correctly, placing the barbecue on a stable surface so it cannot fall over, and keep it well away from anything that can catch fire.

“After use we recommend that you make sure any cylinders are property turned off and if using charcoal or a disposable barbecue, please don’t dispose of any coals in your bin for at least 24 hours, and never leave a lit barbeque unattended.”

The fire prevention guidance extends to gardening, particularly the burning of unwanted cuttings and plant waste. The advice is to make sure any fire is at least 18 metres away from houses, trees, hedges, fences and sheds.

Deb said: “Please don't build your bonfire more than three metres in height and keep buckets of water or a working hosepipe nearby. Once your fire has died down, spray the embers with water to stop it from reigniting and keep a watchful eye to make sure it doesn’t flare up again.”

Oxfordshire’s fire and rescue crews have also been sharing water safety advice linked to concerns about people getting into difficulty in the county’s waterways and lakes, or during visits to the seaside.

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This was in response to national education reform plans following the publication of the Schools White Paper ‘Every child achieving and thriving’ and the SEND consultation ‘Putting children and young people first.’

Councils must submit their SEND reform plan to the Department for Education by 19 June 2026.

Earlier this year, Ofsted recognised that there have been improvements in SEND services in Oxfordshire. Significant progress in jointly commissioning services and reducing waiting times for critical support, was also acknowledged.

The SEND reform plan sets out key proposals for children to receive the right support earlier and closer to home by strengthening inclusion in mainstream schools; recruiting more educational psychologists and therapists to improve access to specialist support; creating inclusion support bases; and working more closely with families through local support services.

In developing the plan, a series of workshops were held with health, schools and education settings, and the Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum.

The plan is based on a shared vision to create a more inclusive system where all children feel supported and can thrive, getting the right support at the right time.

The system will be developed over the next three years to:

• Focus on early intervention for children and young people at mainstream schools and settings.
• Provide access to universal and targeted support that is not currently available in the system.
• Deliver a needs led approach, improving outcomes for children and young people.
• Ensuring that a partnership approach informs service delivery.

If approved, Oxfordshire County Council will receive a high needs stability grant, which could cover up to 90 per cent of the dedicated schools grant deficit.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “Every child deserves an opportunity to thrive whatever their circumstances and this plan sets out how we will deliver better, more inclusive support for children and young people with SEND. We are working closely with partners and with families, children and young people who are at the heart of the SEND system.

“It’s a vital step towards improving outcomes while making sure our services are sustainable for the future.”

If approved, progress will be monitored closely, with regular updates to ensure the changes deliver lasting improvements for children and young people across Oxfordshire.

SEND services in Oxfordshire are provided by a local area partnership, which includes Oxfordshire County Council; NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (formerly NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board); Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum; and professional subject matter leads.

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Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is highlighting how tension and euphoria associated with the global football extravaganza can easily become a dangerous distraction.

Deb Forder, Safety Manager for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “A penalty shootout or drama around a video referee decision are big attention grabbers, making it easy to momentarily take our eyes off the fire safety ball.

“So, play it safe; you could prepare food before kick-off; or buy takeaways and home delivered pizzas to remove the need to do any cooking.

“Remember, if you are prepping your own meal, remove any pan off the hob and turnoff the cooker if you’re leaving the kitchen to grab the latest on the big game, and don't drink and fry.

“We recommend avoiding chip pans, which create an unnecessary home fire risk; instead, use a thermostat-controlled deep fat fryer or an air fryer.

“Clean burnt food and fat from grills, toasters, cookers and microwaves, and turnoff appliances when cooking is finished. This is common sense safety advice we should follow every day, not just during major sporting events; however, the appeal and passion of the World Cup makes it even more important.

“The best result is not to smoke; however, if you do then please discard cigarettes safely and don’t smoke in bed.”

When using a barbeque, advice includes never leaving it unattended, ensuring it is in good working order, and making sure any gas pipes are in good condition and connected correctly. Placing the barbecue on a stable surface is also important so it cannot fall over.

After use, it is recommended that any cylinders are property turned off and coals shouldn’t be disposed of in a bin for at least 24 hours.

Flags, banners and bunting should be kept away from candles and barbeques.

Deb said: "Enjoy the World Cup, it’s a great way to bring communities together, but remember that football, alcohol and cooking are never the best team combination!”

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Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is warning that even on a hot day, the temperature of a body of open water can remain very cold, meaning falling or intentionally jumping in can result in a cold shock response.

There are many hazards under the surface in rivers that may entrap a person. Outside of the county, rip currents in the sea can be a serious dangers to even the most competent swimmers. Using supervised venues or swimming pools is much safer.

Deb Forder, Safety Manager for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Open water can look appealing, especially on warm days, but it is also very dangerous. That is why the practical advice we’re offering is so important, particularly during the hot weather when residents are more likely to be tempted to take a dip.

“Please consider things such as letting friends and family know your route near water and what time you should return. Carry a whistle and your phone in a water proof pouch to draw attention if you do get into difficulties.

“If you are submerged in water unexpectedly, your body will gasp for air meaning that you could breathe in water and hyperventilate. This over breathing can make you lightheaded and, as your brain is deprived of oxygen, you may become disoriented.

“Your body’s cold shock response, which speeds up the heart rate, may conflict with the diving response, which does the opposite, causing your heart to go into abnormal rhythms, which can cause sudden death.

“If you fall in, remember to relax, lean back and “float to live” until you can control your breathing.”

Anyone witnessing someone in trouble in the water should call 999 or 112 and shout for help. They shouldn’t enter the water themselves; instead, throw something in that will float.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is warning that there are other dangers of open water. Be aware that:

• Reservoirs, lakes, rivers and other inland water may look safe and inviting, particularly on a warm day. But there are hidden dangers below the surface that could make people ill, cause injury, even kill.
• Choose a lifeguarded beach if planning to go into the sea.
• Even on a hot day, the temperature of the water in a reservoir, quarry, lake and the sea can remain very cold. The low water temperature can numb limbs and claim lives.
• From the surface, it is not always possible to see what is under the water. This could be anything from large rocks to machinery, from shopping trolleys to branches and even fish hooks or broken fishing line, all of which could cause injury.
• The water in rivers and the sea might look calm but there could be strong currents below the surface, or strong rip tides that can pull the strongest of swimmers out to sea. Even reservoirs have currents, caused by working machinery.

Deb added: “A simple change to our behaviour can reduce the risk of drowning. Avoid high risk areas, be aware of your surroundings and know how to react if you or someone else falls in.

“Respect the water, even if you’re a good swimmer and familiar with the river, lake or reservoir. Be water aware.”

Further information and advice are available on the water safety section of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue’s YouTube channel or visit the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s website.

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Quiet lanes are designated roads where motor traffic is restricted to make it safer for people to walk, wheel, cycle, wheel and horse ride. By removing through traffic, quiet lanes can reduce vehicle numbers and speeds, lower the risk and severity of collisions, and make minor roads feel calmer and safer. Access is maintained for residents, farmers, businesses and emergency services.

Picture: Leader of Oxfordshire County Council Tim Bearder on Shepherd's Pit Lane

Several quiet lanes already exist in Oxfordshire, and the new approach in Oxfordshire is an enhancement to existing Department for Transport policy, going beyond traditional signage-based lanes to achieve the safest outcomes.

New lanes will only be introduced where there is strong local support, including from parish and county councillors, for the measure and a suitable alternative route for motor traffic.

Councillor Rebekah Fletcher, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Quiet lanes are about making sure local roads work for the communities that live there, not as cut-throughs for traffic they were never designed to carry. 

“This new approach will help us to prioritise walking, wheeling, cycling and horse riding, and give us a clear and consistent way to provide quiet lanes where there is strong local support. We will use evidence to make sure schemes are safe, effective and sensitive to their surroundings. By piloting schemes first, we can get them right before any permanent decisions are made.

“I look forward to working with parish and town councils and local councillors on this locally led and innovative programme.”

Oxfordshire’s new quiet lanes will prioritise physical measures supported by reduced speed limits, typically to 20mph.

All new schemes in the pilot will include:

• physical measures to prohibit through traffic, such as gates and bollards
• quiet lane signage
• speed limit changes

Overall journey times for drivers are usually only slightly affected because suitable alternative routes must be available.

The council will now work with parish and town councils and local councillors to identify and pilot new sites.

Each scheme will be subject to statutory consultation, which will allow measures to be tested in practice, evidence to be collected and designs refined before any permanent decisions are made.

More information

• The term “quiet lane” is often used to describe a road where signage alone indicates suitability for walking, wheeling and cycling. However, evidence shows that sign only approaches do not reliably reduce traffic volumes or speeds. For more information visit TRL's website.
• Quiet lanes also connect bridleways with public rights of way, benefitting horse riders.
• All newly proposed quiet lanes schemes will be assessed using a standard countywide framework considering safety, traffic levels, availability of alternative routes, environmental benefits and community support.
• Pilot schemes will be delivered using experimental traffic regulation orders (ETROs) and will be subject to statutory consultation.
• The quiet lanes programme is funded through a county council capital allocation.
• The council will invite parish and town councils and local county councillors to express an interest in the scheme and identify any suitable local routes.

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Tracy Hinton and Sarah Black, from the Henley area, are therapeutic foster carers; they are sharing their experience of making a difference to young people in the hope that others will feel motivated to follow in their footsteps, either as mainstream foster carers or in a more specialist therapeutic role.

Therapeutic fostering involves supporting children who need some extra care and stability in their placements because they have had a difficult start in life.

Tracy also works with children who are neurodiverse. Fostering has always been something she wanted to pursue alongside this work, and her experience meant she was well placed for a journey into mainstream foster care before later moving into the niche role of therapeutic.

Tracy said: “I love both the challenge and emotional reward, playing an important part in developing these young people’s self-esteem, belief and understanding in overcoming and managing their emotions.”

Sarah was working as a mental health nurse manager in Oxfordshire before fostering. This type of care work was an ideal background and, like Tracy, she began with mainstream foster care before taking a similar route into her therapeutic fostering role.

Sarah said: “The therapeutic approach was particularly meaningful to me because it prioritises understanding the root causes of a child’s behaviour and providing appropriate care and responses. The support received from the wider Oxfordshire County Council team is invaluable and I really enjoy this work.

“Seeing its positive effects motivates me to continue helping young people overcome difficult early experiences in this way."

Tracy and Sarah receive training and support from Oxfordshire County Council’s therapeutic fostering team, giving them a deeper understanding of the psychology behind children’s behaviour and how to respond with empathy and confidence.

Therapeutic foster care provides a wraparound service for each child, with carers playing an active and valued role at the heart of a wider council support team.

One young person who was supported by the therapeutic fostering team had struggled emotionally and lacked confidence following multiple disrupted experiences in their early upbringing.

Tracy said: “Through the regular and consistent care we gave, with a strong therapeutic approach, gradually we connected with the child. Trust was built, slowly they came out of their shell, a personality started to shine through, and they were in a better place emotionally to enjoy life and make the most of their future.

“It was quite a slow process, which is understandable, but patience brings its rewards, and that’s what we both love about fostering and why by sharing our story we hope more people in Oxfordshire will consider giving it a go.”

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “Tracy and Sarah are role models, along with our other 146 approved fostering families.

“Through care and dedication, they make a big difference to the lives of children who, for various reasons, need to be cared for outside of their own family. I admire and congratulate each and every one of our dedicated foster carers.

“Our foster care service is not for profit, and where possible we are committed to keeping children and young people near to their birth families, friends and schools.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s foster carers receive:

• Generous fees, paid in addition to the child’s allowance, based on experience and skills.
• Dedicated social worker support.
• Access to professionals involved with the child/children, linked with support groups and specialised training.

For further information about becoming a foster carer, visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/fostering, email fostering@oxfordshire.gov.uk or phone  0800 783 5724.

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Identical twins Chris and Johnny Taylor, aged 18 and from Charlbury, are studying for their A levels alongside training as boxers at Banbury Boxing Club.

They entered foster care at 14, where the stability and support they received helped shape the exciting direction their lives are now taking.

Johnny said: “Our days are very structured now and that’s something that could only have happened through being fostered.

“When we first moved in with our brilliant foster carer, Lucy, life felt uncertain and we weren’t always sure what support would be available to us, everything felt strange and new.

“However, over time, that began to change as routine and structure gradually became a source of reassurance, helping us feel more secure and confident, something we hadn’t really had until that point.

“At first it felt like staying at a friend’s house, then after a while it felt like home.

“Once you’re settled, then you can dream; your ambition and drive kick in. We both love boxing, and train and coach together at Banbury Boxing Club. But it doesn’t end there because we also share knowledge about fitness and sports nutrition on our social media channels. You’ll find us on TikTok: thetaylortwins07 and Instagram: thetaylortwins.07.”

The twins’ commitment to boxing, alongside their academic studies, has brought its rewards; they were recently offered unconditional places on the psychology and sports performance undergraduate course at University of Portsmouth, where they’ll enrol in September 2026.

Having their own bedrooms and taking part in everyday family activities, such as shared dinners, holidays abroad, and spending time together, has helped the twins feel settled and truly at home, and they believe this has played an important role in how opportunities are now falling into place.

Chris sums it up: “It just makes everything calm, you know, it’s like we can wake up, we know what we’re doing, no stress.”

Their foster carer, Lucy, isn’t left to provide support alone, assistance comes from Oxfordshire County Council’s dedicated foster care team and by being linked with a wider network such as peer support from other fostering families.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “Chris and Johnny’s experience shows how fostering can make a real difference for children and young people, replacing uncertainty with stability, support and a sense of belonging that is now helping them pursue their ambitions.

“I hope in Chris and Johnny we have two future boxing stars and I wish them the very best.

“We have 147 approved fostering families and I admire and congratulate each and every one of them for their dedication and commitment to young people.

“Our foster care service is not for profit, and where possible we are committed to keeping children and young people near to their birth families, friends and schools.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s foster carers receive:

• Generous fees, paid in addition to the child’s allowance, based on experience and skills.
• Dedicated social worker support.
• Access to professionals involved with the child/children, linked with support groups and specialised training.

For further information about becoming a foster carer, visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/fostering, email fostering@oxfordshire.gov.uk or phone 0800 783 5724.

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Henley, Eynsham and Woodstock fire stations had been considered for closure because of low availability of on-call crews; however, a public consultation, between October 2025 and January 2026, showed significant community support for retaining them.

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “Thank you to everyone who shared their views, we received well over a thousand responses.

“It’s apparent, having read and listened carefully to those who gave their feedback during the consultation, that local people are keen to support existing fire stations in their towns and villages.

“Building on that brilliant community support, on 21 April 2026 Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved plans to work with communities to support recruitment at on-call stations, particularly in Henley, Woodstock and Eynsham. This is with the aim of increasing on-call firefighter numbers, so the fire engines are more often available for emergency callouts.”

The main proposal in the public consultation was to address ongoing challenges with fire engine availability during the daytime, when demand and risk are highest. 

Work will continue to identify how Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service can deliver its key objectives of improved first response times, increased daytime cover, stronger service resilience, and an increased amount of fire prevention work.

Further engagement with employees and the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will take place to help shape how proposals could work in practice.

On-call firefighters are everyday people who do extraordinary things. They balance their other jobs and commitments with being ready to respond to emergencies at a moment’s notice. Because of this, they need to live or work close to the fire station they respond from.

Cabinet also agreed to withdraw a proposal presented in the public consultation to remove the second fire engine at Thame fire station. This was put forward based on low availability of crews and because the vehicle had been attending less than 20 incidents a year.

This will allow time to consider consultation feedback alongside similar proposals recently consulted on by Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, particularly given the proximity of Thame and Haddenham fire stations.

Proposals relating to the building of a new fire station north of Oxford will require further work before any decisions are made. While the long‑term potential remains, the proposal is being paused for now due to uncertainty around developer negotiations and the need for further engagement.

This means the city’s existing Rewley Road fire station and its allocation of fire engines will remain for the time being. No timeframe has been finalised for a future decision.

The specialist fire and rescue vehicle based at Kidlington fire station will remain in place. Further detailed work on specialist rescue provision will continue separately, recognising the complexity and importance of this area, and will be shaped through engagement with employees and representative bodies.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the consultation, from employees to residents, businesses and politicians. The response to the consultation has highlighted how important our fire service is to local communities and the value residents place on the dedication and commitment of crews."

Further details, including how to apply to become an on-call firefighter, are available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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On Wednesday 15 April 2026, Oxfordshire County Council and NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (NHS Thames Valley) received a letter from The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, recognising ongoing improvements in services for Oxfordshire’s SEND children.

The secretary of state noted that Oxfordshire’s local area partnership (LAP) has strengthened how the views of children and young people with SEND, as well as parents and carers, are gathered and used in strategic planning.

There have been improvements in communication and information sharing across the partnership, including monitoring the impact of the partnership’s actions and enhanced timeliness of education and health care plans (EHCPs).

Significant progress in jointly commissioning services and reducing waiting times for critical support, was also acknowledged by the secretary of state in her letter.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “The government’s decision to remove the improvement notice is encouraging. Close partnership working has helped us to review, reset and rebuild services.

“The government does, quite rightly, expect the services and support we collectively provide to keep getting better. We are committed to this and will continue to engage and listen to children, young people with SEND and their families as part of our improvement journey.”

Dr Nick Broughton, Executive Lead, NHS Thames Valley, said: “We welcome the decision to lift the improvement notice and recognise it as an important milestone for SEND services in Oxfordshire. This reflects the commitment and hard work of colleagues across the local area partnership, and the willingness of organisations to come together, challenge ourselves and work differently in the interests of children and young people.

“We know, however, that this is not the end of the journey. There is still more to do to ensure services are consistently timely, joined up and responsive, and to rebuild confidence with families. We hope that parents, carers and children are beginning to see the impact of the changes being made, but we remain focused on sustained improvement and listening carefully to their experiences as we continue this work together.”

The LAP includes Oxfordshire County Council; NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (formerly NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board); Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum; and professional subject matter leads.

Notes

In July 2023, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission undertook a local area partnership inspection of SEND services

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In total 93.9 per cent of pupils have received a first preference offer in Oxfordshire and 99.2 per cent were offered a preferred school.

This year’s national figures will be published later in the year.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “Children’s early years are an important stepping stone that will set them up for the future, which is why we place great importance in our aim of providing primary places based on parents’ preferences.

“It’s likely to take these children a bit of time to adjust to their new experience of going to school, therefore I’m pleased we’ve been able to offer the vast majority of applicants their first choice.

“Thanks to the county council teams who have been working hard to deliver this outcome.”

Some families are not offered their first preference where applications for their preferred school exceed available spaces and those who are not happy with their allocated place can appeal by 15 May 2026.

Children's names can also be added to waiting lists in case places become available at schools they are interested in between now and September. Waiting lists start on 22 June 2026.

Anyone who has yet to apply for a primary school place for their child for September 2026 should email the council on admissions.schools@oxfordshire.gov.uk or phone 01865 519800 (option 2).

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As a result of feedback received by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service between late October 2025 and January 2026, a proposal is being made to continue focusing on recruitment and community engagement at Eynsham, Henley and Woodstock fire stations.

The three fire stations had been considered for closure due to persistent low availability of on-call crews.

However, residents’ feedback made it clear how important local fire stations are with communities showing strong support for retaining them. Newly shaped proposals will be considered by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet on 21 April 2026.

The main proposal in the public consultation was to address ongoing challenges with fire engine availability during the daytime, when demand and risk are highest.

As part of this, the consultation explored proposals to improve daytime fire and emergency response cover across Oxfordshire.

Work will continue to identify how Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service can deliver its key objectives of improved first response times, increased daytime cover, stronger service resilience, and an increased amount of fire prevention work.

Further engagement with employees and the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) will take place to help shape how proposals could work in practice.

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who shared their views on our proposals during the public consultation. We received over a thousand responses, and it was important that we listened carefully to what people told us.

“It’s important that we regularly review our resources and work closely with our local communities and colleagues to gain consensus on how best to shape the service to meet current and future needs.

“It’s apparent, having read and listened to those who gave us their feedback, that local people are keen to support existing fire stations in their towns and villages.

“Building on that community support, we’ll be taking revised proposals to Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet on 21 April, which will include reviewing and adapting our recruitment campaigns at Eynsham, Henley and Woodstock, with the aim of increasing on-call firefighter numbers and improving fire engine availability.”

On-call firefighters are everyday people who do extraordinary things. They balance their other jobs and commitments with being ready to respond to emergencies at a moment’s notice. Because of this, they need to live or work close to the fire station they respond from.

Cabinet will also be asked to agree to withdrawing the proposal presented in the public consultation to remove the second fire engine at Thame fire station. This was put forward based on low availability of crews and because the vehicle had been attending less than 20 incidents a year.

This will allow time to consider consultation feedback alongside similar proposals recently consulted on by Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, particularly given the proximity of Thame and Haddenham fire stations.

Proposals relating to the building of a new fire station north of Oxford will require further work before any decisions are made. While the long‑term potential remains, the proposal is being paused for now due to uncertainty around developer negotiations and the need for further engagement.

This means the city’s existing Rewley Road fire station and its allocation of fire engines will remain for the time being. No timeframe has been finalised for a future decision.

The specialist fire and rescue vehicle based at Kidlington fire station will remain in place. Further detailed work on specialist rescue provision will continue separately, recognising the complexity and importance of this area, and will be shaped through engagement with employees and representative bodies.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the consultation, from employees to residents, businesses and politicians. Those views have been reflected in new proposals, which cabinet will discuss on 21 April.

“The strength of feeling for retaining community fire stations is crystal clear, and if cabinet approves what is proposed we hope that we’ll receive support from local people as we rollout our recruitment campaign for more on-call firefighters.

“Maintaining prompt emergency response times and community safety are at the heart of our thinking and planning. The response to the consultation has highlighted how important our fire service is to local communities and the value residents place on the dedication and commitment of crews.

"Our commitment is to work with firefighters and the local communities that support them as we work out how to deliver a stronger, more resilient and more effective fire and rescue service across Oxfordshire."

Further details, including how to apply to become an on-call firefighter, are available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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As firefighters retire, gain promotion, or continue their careers in other parts of the country, the county’s fire and rescue service regularly plans ahead, periodically carrying out recruitment drives, the last campaign taking place two years ago in Spring 2024.

Matt Chapman, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said: “What our brilliant crews have in common is self-reliance, confidence, respect, enthusiasm, team spirit and a willingness to be ready for anything when alerted to an emergency.”

Wholetime firefighters need to be able to communicate with a range of different people, especially those who are elderly, young adults and school children. They carry out presentations, visit people's homes, talk to them and listen.

There are 222 wholetime firefighters in Oxfordshire, based at six fire stations across the county; 206 are male and 16 female. Crews have attended over 5,000 emergency callouts over the last year.

Three online question and answer sessions for people interested in learning more about the recruitment process are taking place today and on Monday. The joining links are available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

• Thursday 26 March 2026, 7pm - 8pm  
• Monday 30 March 2026, 12:30pm -1:30pm
• Monday 30 March 2026, 6:30pm - 7:30pm 

Matt Chapman said: “Joining our fire and rescue service opens up a wide range of opportunities that many people don’t have the chance to experience. You develop new skills through fantastic training, work in a wide range of exciting and challenging situations and make a real difference throughout your working life.

“We’re looking for people who care about others and who are ready to play their part in supporting our communities. There’s far more to being a firefighter than most people realise; it’s about character, teamwork and commitment.”

For more information about becoming a wholetime firefighter, visit Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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Eleven firefighters who have served Oxfordshire residents for a combined total of 220 years were presented with His Majesty The King’s long service and good conduct medals.

In addition, five firefighters with a combined total of 150 years’ service received commemorative clasps and certificates.

Two fire and rescue support staff were honoured for 20 years of service, emphasising their vital role working alongside operational teams.

Pictured (below) is Adam Cook (left), based at Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service’s headquarters in Kidlington, receiving a 20 Year Long Service Medal from Marjorie Glasgow BEM, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, on Wednesday 11 March.

The evening celebrated excellence across the service, with awards presented to individuals, teams and fire stations who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their communities, lived the service’s values and made a positive difference through their work.

These included awards for fire station of the year, on-call fire station of the year, fire and community safety team of the year, volunteer of the year, fundraiser of the year, employee of the year, and for firefighter cadets.

The fundraiser of the year award went to Oxford’s Slade Fire Station; they have raised £4,200 for the Fire Fighters Charity, Helen and Douglas House, and Oxford Children’s Hospital. Pictured (above) alongside Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer (left), are Paul Thrower, Sian Jones, Maria De Abreu Garces and Anna Cole.

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer and Director of Community Safety, said: “Our annual awards ceremony is about recognising the courage and commitment that colleagues across our service show every day.

“These awards reflect decades of service to Oxfordshire’s communities and the strength of a team that continues to support one another and deliver with professionalism and care.

“I am incredibly proud of all my colleagues this evening and grateful for the contribution they make to our organisation and to the people of Oxfordshire.”

Emily Spencer, Blenheim Palace’s Head of Operations, said: "It is truly special for us to welcome back and honour the incredible individuals receiving recognition for their long service and bravery. 

“We celebrate many wonderful occasions in our Orangery, but this one is a highlight of our year.

“For Blenheim Palace to play even a small part in hosting and thanking Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service for all their important work is a real privilege”

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Amy Snell, who lives in Wallingford and works for the council’s children’s services team, was put forward for BASW’s Amazing Social Workers initiative by an anonymous person who experienced her dedication in making a positive difference to young people’s lives.

Their testimonial gave extensive praise to Amy, including:

“Amy embodies what it means to be a social worker. She is fearless and compassionate in advocating for human rights, protecting adults and children, and supporting her colleagues. Amy shares her expertise generously with colleagues, newer members of staff and now after working for several years supporting children and families, she continues to promote and protect the rights of adults she comes into contact with through her work.”

Responding to the praise, Amy said: “This is so unexpected, I didn’t put myself forward for recognition and because the person who nominated me has done so without revealing their name, it’s both a pleasant surprise and a bit of a mystery!

“My passion is making a difference to children and their families, not making headlines, just quietly taking pride when young people overcome challenges.

“However, if I can showcase the vital role of social workers through this achievement and encourage more people to join the profession, I’m delighted to be one of the faces of BASW’s campaign.”

Amy studied at Oxford Brookes university, qualifying as a social worker in 2019 and has worked for Oxfordshire County Council ever since.

Her current role in the multi-agency safeguarding hub involves providing early help to families, with a commitment, where possible, to resolve problems so that parents and children remain together.

Amy’s intervention is needed for a variety of different challenges, including young people experiencing mental wellbeing issues, drug and alcohol abuse, bullying and, in some cases, exploitation by gangs.

It’s very much a team effort. Amy liaises with partner organisations and volunteers such as the police, schools, health services, foster carers, adopters and the families themselves.

Amy said: “The job of social workers can be misunderstood, sometimes because we’re misrepresented in television dramas and soaps. It’s therefore daunting for families when they come in contact with us, often for the first time, and part of my role is to reassure.

“Although we have fantastic foster carers who can provide loving environments for vulnerable children it’s about trying to support families before that level of extra care is needed.

“I speak to parents whose son or daughter may have severe mental or physical health problems and it’s important they feel heard about their situation as we work together in search of solutions.

“I take on over 20 cases most weeks. The vast majority will have positive outcomes for families. That’s hugely rewarding for me, knowing I’ve played my part in a young person’s life, helping them conquer adversity, setting them up for what I hope will be a happy and fulfilling future. It’s what gets me out of bed each morning!”

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “Amy, like so many of our social workers, is a shining example of compassion, dedication and professionalism.

“Our commitment to make a difference to the lives of every young person in Oxfordshire means her profession, quite rightly, deserves maximum recognition. Amy goes above and beyond on a regular basis because she wants to help children and families overcome adversity, giving them the very best chance to succeed in reaching goals and realising their potential. Well done Amy, we’re proud of you.”

BASW will feature all the recognised social workers on its website and social media channels throughout March.

Lewis Roberts, BASW Vice-Chair, said: “We’re proud to run our Amazing Social Workers campaign for its sixth consecutive year. It is a wonderful way for our profession to celebrate inspiring social work practice and pay tribute to the many individual and collective successes that deserve to be noticed.

“Across our communities, social workers go above and beyond to make a positive difference to the lives of adults, children and families they support.

“Congratulations to everyone who has been recognised this year and thank you for all you do every day.”

Further information about becoming a children’s social worker is available by emailing careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk or by visiting Oxfordshire County Council’s website

Notes

• The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is the independent professional association for social work in the UK, with just under 21,000 members. Its mission is to act for social workers, the profession and for a better society.
• The Amazing Social Workers campaign will form part of BASW’s celebrations for World Social Work Day on Tuesday 17 March, an international event raising awareness and visibility of social work. This year’s theme is ‘Co-building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society.’
• More information about the Amazing Social Workers campaign can be found on BASW’s website.

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The five on-call firefighters, based in Abingdon, all live in the town and are close to the fire station. They share their story in the lead up to International Women’s Day, taking place on Sunday 8 March.

Emily Potter, firefighter in Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, and part of the all female crew, said: “For as long as I can remember we’ve had female on-call firefighters based in Abingdon, and across many of our other fire stations too. 

“What’s different now is that through a combination of training, availability and living locally, the five of us can crew a fire appliance together when needed.

"We’ve worked incredibly hard to gain the necessary skills so we can respond together as an all female crew. Our commitment shows just how capable and determined we are and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved together.

“It’s been an empowering experience, a journey of camaraderie, supported by our chief fire officer and colleagues at the station, and I hope it encourages more women to see firefighting as a career for them.”

Overall, Abingdon Fire Station has 17 on-call firefighters, 12 males and five females. They work alongside 12 full-time crew members, ten males and two females.

On-call firefighters participate in a wide range of activities in their local area, from responding to emergency calls to providing prevention advice to help keep residents safe and, ultimately, to save lives.

As on-call firefighters, the five all female crew have other jobs outside of the service but make themselves available at certain times to respond to emergency calls. When this happens, they will quickly make their way to their fire station from home, work or wherever they happen to be, all aided by living locally.

On-call firefighters are offered a flexible shift pattern to fit around their studies, work and family commitments, to attract a wide range of people to the service.

Emily is currently working as an engineer. She has been an on-call firefighter for over seven years. Her fellow crew members are Anastasia Osborne, Kayleigh Williams, Maria Alegria and Karen Bellcourt.

Maria, an on-call firefighter for nearly four years, works at London Oxford Airport, while Kayleigh, a mum of two, is a photographer who has been an on-call firefighter for three years.

Anastasia has been an on-call firefighter for nearly two years, and is employed as a firefighter at RAF Brize Norton.

Karen, a mum of three and an on-call firefighter for over four years, also works as a student health and safety adviser at Abingdon and Witney College.

Karen said: “Being able to respond from my primary employment, close to the fire station, makes being an on-call firefighter achievable for me, and the flexibility and support of my employer is brilliant.

“Working alongside my female colleagues as part of the wider Abingdon crew is both an honour and a privilege. Through supporting our community and one another, we live the spirit of ‘give to gain,’ proving that when we step forward and give, we all grow stronger together.”

Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “As we mark International Women’s Day, it’s especially important to recognise the dedication of the Abingdon crew and our commitment to equal opportunities across our fire and rescue service. We now have 56 female operational firefighters in Oxfordshire.

“We’ve come a long way since our first all female fire crew over 20 years ago in Faringdon and I remember thinking back then that we’d achieve it again. Now we have at Abingdon.

“Here in Oxfordshire, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation, welcoming applications from everyone with the right attributes. If you’ve got what it takes to be a firefighter we’d love to hear from you.

“Our crew at Abingdon Fire Station is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when we embrace diversity and promote inclusivity.”

Rebecca Rimmer, Watch Manager at Faringdon Fire Station, reflects on being part of the first all female crew in Faringdon two decades ago: “I have gained so much from my career in the fire service. It’s pushed me out of my comfort zone in so many positive ways and allowed me to gain skills that I’ve applied in all aspects of my life, even in my most important job of being a mum to my two children.

“Twenty years ago, being in that groundbreaking all female crew based at Faringdon felt like breaking through a glass ceiling. We had to go that extra mile to prove we were just as capable as the men in dealing with the daily physical and mental challenges the role entails.

“It’s taken longer than I expected to see another all female crew in place, but we’ve got there and now I hope the Abingdon team will inspire more women to consider a role as an on-call firefighter where a flexible work pattern can be put in place to work around family commitments, career or studies, or indeed a full-time firefighter.”

Attributes and requirements needed by on-call firefighters include:

• a strong desire to support the local community
• enthusiasm for working as part of a team
• a reasonable level of fitness
• living or working within a close distance to the local fire station (approximately five minutes).

Further information about becoming an on-call firefighter is available by emailing fire.recruitment@oxfordshire.gov.uk or from Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service will be launching its next recruitment campaign for whole‑time firefighters shortly, welcoming applications from individuals interested in joining the service in a full‑time capacity.

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In total 85.4 per cent of pupils have received a first preference offer in Oxfordshire and 96.4 per cent were offered a preferred school. This year’s national figures will be published later in the year.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “We aim to give all children the best start in life and educational and learning opportunities are fundamental to this.

“It’s a big step moving from primary to secondary school, often from a small school to a very much larger setting. So, I’m delighted that we have been able to offer the vast majority of applicants their first choice of school.

“Thanks to the county council teams who have been working hard to deliver this outcome.”

Some families are not offered their first preference where applications for particular schools exceed available spaces.

Families wishing to challenge the outcome of their application can appeal by 31 March 2026.

Children's names can also be added to waiting lists in case places become available at schools they are interested in between now and September. Waiting lists start on 25 May.

Anyone who has yet to apply for a secondary school place for their child for September 2026 should email the council on admissions.schools@oxfordshire.gov.uk or phone 01865 519800 (option 2).

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Over £1m per year has been approved to fund a further 20 enhanced pathways and continue funding the 40 already in place, spreading support as widely as possible across the county.

The initiative, developed within mainstream schools, provides teachers with the ability to deliver small group support for children with SEND.

Bespoke and specialised curriculums are offered, designed to meet the social, emotional, sensory and academic needs of each young person.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “These new enhanced pathways build on our commitment to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), giving them access to the right support at the right time.

“Already 292 children and young people benefit from our dedicated provision and support in mainstream schools, and I know there is no doubt whatsoever in what the benefits will be of more enhanced pathways.”

The locations of the new enhanced pathways will be decided towards the end of the spring term, giving time for schools to submit an application.

The initiative was first introduced in the 2021-22 academic year at around £500,000 per year. With the approved investment today Oxfordshire County Council has increased annual funding to £3 million across a total of 60 enhanced pathways.

Any parent wanting more information about available support should talk to their children’s school about its approach to inclusion.

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The county council’s temporary congestion charge is at points on six roads in Oxford and was introduced on 29 October. It is designed to reduce traffic in the city while Botley Road remains closed, and the start of the council’s traffic filter trial is delayed. 

The published data includes car and bus journey times, and park and ride usage. Data is presented alongside figures for the same month in the previous year for comparison and is published each month. This is the third month of data published for the temporary scheme. 

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “It’s very encouraging to see how many people have taken up our offer of free park and ride bus travel into the city with the congestion charge, with reduced traffic on key routes enabling improvements to bus services to be made across the city. Compared to January 2025, January 2026 saw 33 per cent more cars entering the Redbridge park and ride site, which is a really significant increase. Entries to park and ride sites have increased year on year, particularly at the Redbridge and Peartree sites, and there is still plenty of capacity. 

“Park and ride is an increasingly convenient way to visit Oxford, and the more people use it, the more we all benefit.  

“It’s still too early for us to draw firm conclusions and we will continue to watch the impacts of the temporary congestion charge carefully as residents, visitors and businesses adjust to it.”  

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “We've been really encouraged with the take up of the park and ride offer. More people using park and ride has a really positive impact for the wider bus network across the city, with the traffic that it takes off the roads directly supporting faster journeys on buses across the city, and beyond. We've introduced improvements to some of our longer-distance services from 22 February, to match the improvements already made to most city routes, so the benefits are spreading far and wide.” 

Monitoring data is now published for November, December and January, with some data sets not yet available. Travel patterns and external factors will continue to change. The data that is being collected will build a picture over time of how the scheme is working and highlight any issues the council may need to address.

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About the temporary congestion charge 

A charge of £5 per day is payable to drive a car without a permit through the six congestion charge locations. Cars with permits and all other vehicles can go through the temporary congestion charge locations for free.  

There are permit types available that allow free travel through the congestion charge points. Permit applications covering different circumstances can be made from the county council website, including for residents, traders, carers and blue badge holders. To find out about different permits and exemptions, visit the congestion charge website.  

Those driving in a car without a permit can pay the congestion charge online by midnight on the day after driving through one of the six charge locations – no account is needed. There is also an option to pay by phone. 

Locations and operating times:

• Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way - Monday to Saturday - At peak times between 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm
• Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement’s Street and Thames Street - Monday to Sunday - 7am to 7pm

The scheme will remain in place until the traffic filters trial is introduced, once Botley Road reopens, expected to be August 2026.

Action on Carbon and Energy in Schools (ACES), an energy efficiency support service funded by Oxfordshire County Council, has been supporting schools with applying for a loan.

William Fletcher Primary School at Yarnton near Kidlington, St Swithun’s CE Primary School in Kennington, and St Ebbe’s CE Primary School in Oxford have each secured interest free funding through the council’s loan scheme.

The scheme has been running since July 2023 to help maintained schools reduce energy use and cut operational costs.

The loans support the installation of a range of energy saving measures including rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage and energy‑efficient LED lighting.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “This is great news for the environment and for the children who will have an opportunity in their early years to not only experience the benefits of energy efficiency in their classrooms, but also to learn about why reducing carbon emissions is good for the planet.

“There’s more to come too, with eighteen further schools having successfully applied for energy efficiency loans and details of their plans will be released in coming months.”

William Fletcher Primary School has secured around £70,000 to install both solar PV and LED lighting.

Claire Martin, Headteacher at William Fletcher Primary School, said: “We are delighted to have installed solar panels and LED lighting at our school. This is an important step in reducing our environmental impact and shows our commitment to creating a more sustainable future for our pupils and community.

“The project gives our pupils a real life example of how renewable energy works and why sustainability matters. It’s an exciting opportunity to link learning with positive action.”

St Swithun’s CE Primary School has been awarded nearly £60,000 to introduce solar PV, battery storage and LED lighting.

Amanda Giles, School Business Manager at St Swithun’s CE Primary School, said: “By having the solar panels installed we have lowered our carbon footprint and we are meeting our sustainability targets as a school. Our eco council is becoming a great role model by sharing knowledge on the importance of clean energy with fellow students.“

St Ebbe’s CE Primary School is also benefiting, having received just over £14,500 for a whole school upgrade to LED lighting.

Nicole Grazier, School Business Manager at St Ebbe’s CE Primary School, said: “With this grant we were able to replace the old lighting with LED lights. This was a large project that we would not have been able to complete without the funding. The savings that will come from this will be fed into other energy saving projects we have planned, reducing our carbon footprint.“

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Councillor Judy Roberts, council officers and the Environment Agency met with Layla Moran MP and Anneliese Dodds MP to discuss the condition of the bearings, concrete and temporary propping beneath the bridge and the potential impact of future lane closures or weight restrictions.

The rail bridge is a key part of the southern bypass, carrying around 50,000 vehicles a day and connecting essential science, technology and business locations across Oxford. The bridge is also a crucial part of the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, with its replacement designed to better allow flood water to pass through.

Oxfordshire County Council is working to secure central government funding for the bridge replacement after a £71 million funding gap was identified last year.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action said: “Replacing Kennington rail bridge is essential for the future resilience of our local road network and the continued growth of science and technology opportunities. Without its replacement, traffic crossing the bridge may be restricted, greatly impacting local businesses and residents.

“A new bridge is also a vital part of the Oxford Flood Alleviation scheme, with the bridge design allowing more capacity for flood water and working as part of the scheme to protect from future flooding.

“The support today from both MPs underlines our shared commitment to ensuring the bridge is replaced as soon as possible. We will continue to work with our MPs and other partners to secure central government funding.”

Layla Moran, the Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon, said: “Kennington Rail Bridge is absolutely critical to Oxford’s transport network and to major local projects like the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme and the Cowley Branch Line. If the bridge continues to deteriorate, the impact will be severe – restricting traffic, clogging up the local road network, and putting vital projects at risk.

“That’s why I’m making the strongest possible case to Government for the remaining funding needed to replace the bridge. The priority must be to act now, prevent disruption before it happens, and deliver a long-term solution for the whole of Oxford.”

Dame Anneliese Dodds, the Member of Parliament for Oxford East, said: “As I've said in Parliament to Government ministers, the replacement of Kennington Rail Bridge is essential for local people to be able to keep getting around but also for local jobs, homes and our environment. I'll keep pushing to ensure the bridge is replaced and the Oxford Flood Alleviation scheme is unlocked.”

Oxfordshire County Council wrote to the chancellor and the secretary of state for transport last year, emphasising the need for financial support from the Department for Transport’s new £1 billion Structures Fund to close a £71 million funding gap in the bridge replacement and improvement project.

The estimated full cost of the project, currently £180 million, has increased due to engineering challenges and inflation in the cost of construction materials. The remaining cost is being met by the council and the Environment Agency.

The rail bridge, built in 1965, needs to be replaced in a way that allows continued access, under traffic management, throughout the construction period.

A water main and fibre optic connections need to be diverted away from the bridge and overhead electricity cables need to be considered during work.

The site also includes a busy passenger and freight railway line and access needs to be planned carefully in advance.

If full funding is secured, Oxfordshire County Council plans to deliver a package of improvements including replacing the rail bridge, building better walking and cycling routes and a new eastbound bus and park and ride lane.

For further information, please contact Oxfordshire County Council’s communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

Notes to editors

Kennington improvements

Kennington rail bridge is part of the A423 Southern Bypass. The bridge was built in 1965 and needs to be replaced due to age-related deterioration and the need for an eastbound bus lane.

·       The structure was passed to Oxfordshire County Council as part of a de-trunking order made by the secretary of state in 2003. Subsequent inspections carried out by the county council identified corrosion and over-rotation of the bearings. Replacing the corroded bearings is not possible due to the construction form of the bridge.

·       The bridge lies above the same rail section affected by the 2023 Nuneham viaduct closure, which disrupted national freight and passenger services. 

·       The bridge has been propped at its piers since 2016 to increase its weight bearing capacity and is regularly surveyed and monitored. The most recent inspection was conducted in August 2025.

·       The A423 Kennington improvement programme includes:

o   the replacement of Kennington rail bridge

o   improved facilities for cycling and walking

o   a new eastbound bus lane – also for use by vehicles travelling to Redbridge park and ride

o   increased capacity of the Hinksey streams for flood alleviation

o   maintenance work on the Kennington road bridge.

·       In October 2024, the county council received planning permission for the improvements. Detailed design work, construction methodologies and all necessary surveys are now nearly complete. Design work revealed that costs would increase due to several factors including:

o   Inflation driving up the cost of materials, labour and specialist construction services.

o   The need for complex temporary work to ensure the existing structure remains stable during reconstruction and the road remains open to traffic.

o   Utility diversions including a complex two-stage Thames Water pipe diversion.

·       Funding for the A423 Kennington improvements comes from multiple sources, including Oxfordshire County Council, the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, the Department for Transport, and the Environment Agency (through the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme).

Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme

The A423 Kennington improvements are closely linked to the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (OFAS), a major flood defence project led by the Environment Agency which will create a new stream with a wetland wildlife corridor to reduce flood risk in the city and surrounding areas.

The scheme will pass beneath the new Kennington rail bridge, and the new bridge design allows flood water to flow back into the Thames. The scheme will also significantly reduce the flood risk on the Botley and Abingdon Roads as well as the main railway line that will keep Oxford open for business.

Oxfordshire County Council is a key delivery partner, and the scheme is funding the flood alleviation elements of the Kennington project. 

Department for Transport Structures Fund

The £1 billion Structures Fund was announced by the chancellor in June 2025 as part of a national initiative to repair and renew transport infrastructure and road networks across the UK. The fund is designed to support local authorities in addressing critical infrastructure needs, such as the replacement of ageing bridges and viaducts, ensuring the resilience and safety of key transport routes for communities and businesses.

ENDS

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The consultation had been scheduled to close on Tuesday, 20 January.

A set of proposals are being consulted on, designed to ensure that as Oxfordshire grows and changes its fire stations, resources, and people are in the right place at the right time to meet the needs of communities and improve the safety, efficiency and resilience of the service.

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s fire and rescue service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has already shared their thoughts on our proposals through the public consultation, we’ve had over 900 responses to date.

“Based on the interest shown, and because we want as wide a contribution of opinions as possible, we’ve now decided to keep it open for another couple of weeks, until the end of this month.”

The consultation is available online at Let’s Talk Oxfordshire.

Background

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has recently completed a review of how it delivers its emergency response and community safety across the county. 

Considerations included how, where and when wholetime and on-call firefighters operate to enable the service to better meet demand day and night across all of Oxfordshire. This includes improving both emergency response times and expanding the reach of vital prevention and protection services to all communities.  

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s fire and rescue service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “It’s important that we regularly review our resources, understand where incidents are most likely to happen and ensure we have the right level of emergency cover in those areas. 

“We provide a fire and rescue service for the people of Oxfordshire, and I want them to play an active role in helping us plan and shape the future of the service by participating in our public consultation.” 

On-call firefighter staffing levels continue to decline in Oxfordshire, with a 36 per cent reduction in the number of full-time equivalent on-call firefighters over the last 10 years. This is affecting the ability to respond to emergencies when demand is highest, which is during the day. 

There is currently greater availability of resource – fire engines and firefighters – at night when demand is lowest, and lower availability during the day when demand is higher. This impacts response times in the day.  

The public consultation will seek views on a range of proposals designed to: 

* Match resources to risk, based on an understanding of where incidents are most likely to happen across Oxfordshire to ensure that the right level of cover is available in those areas. 

* Improve community safety, with the service enhancing its prevention and protection work. This important service will be reshaped to meet the changing needs of Oxfordshire’s population. 

* Futureproof the service by reviewing how it operates currently, which will help in making informed decisions that ensure long-term sustainability and resilience.  

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing and Safety, said: “Your feedback is really important in helping us provide an even better fire and rescue service. The more opinions we receive, the more we can be confident that the decisions we take at the end of the consultation will deliver the kind of fire and rescue service you want across Oxfordshire.”

Public consultation

The public consultation includes a number of options that directly involve Rewley Road fire station in Oxford and the resources that are currently based there.                          

The option that is central to the consultation involves creating five day shift fire engines in Wallingford (or Crowmarsh), Faringdon, Witney, Bicester and Chipping Norton. This will be done by the reallocation of firefighters from existing roles including crewing on one of Rewley Road’s fire engines. This is to help address fire engine staffing levels elsewhere in the county.  

This main proposal includes removing the on-call fire engine away from Rewley Road fire station due to very low levels of staffing over many years. Despite the commitment of the on-call at Rewley Road and the efforts made to boost recruitment, between July 2022 and March 2024, Rewley Road on-call provided less than five percent of staffing hours that are needed during the day and only nine percent availability at night.  

A further option involves moving the fire engines from Rewley Road and Kidlington fire stations to a new fire station location towards the north of Oxford, to improve response times to the surrounding area as well as creating a more accessible station for firefighters outside the city centre.

For Thame, one of the proposals involves removal of the second fire engine at the town’s fire station which, despite the committed efforts of the local crews, has low availability and attends on average only 17 incidents a year in Oxfordshire.  

This move, whilst having no significant impact to first response time to primary fires and road traffic collisions, would allow the employees based at the fire station to focus their efforts on ensuring that just one fire engine is made available.  

No closures have been confirmed, however, three on-call fire stations – Woodstock, Eynsham, Henley – have been considered for closure due to persistent low fire engine availability.  

This is because, despite the dedication of on-call employees, the pressures of modern life often mean that many of them are unable to commit to offering the hours that they once might have; they make themselves available based on their outside of the fire service work and family commitments.  

These closures, should they proceed, are forecast to have a minimal impact on overall response performance due to the ability to deliver a fire engine response from surrounding stations, which is already often the case. 

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This offer was introduced on 29 October for three months to support the council’s temporary congestion charge, which has been implemented as an interim measure while Botley Road remains closed, preventing the start of the traffic filter trial. 

The offer has seen many more people benefit from park and ride travel and is one way that income from the council’s temporary congestion charge scheme is being spent. 

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management said: “The free park and ride bus journey offer is proving extremely popular, with park and ride operators reporting over 179,000 more journeys in the first two months of the offer than the same period last year. 

“I’m pleased that so many people are benefitting not just from our offer of free bus journeys but also faster park and ride services since the congestion charge was introduced. The fantastic take-up is contributing to cleaner air, reduced traffic, and safer streets. 

“With bus companies now providing further service improvements, people have more choice and convenience when it comes to bus travel and accessing the city, including major hospital sites.” 

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company said: "We're delighted that the popular free park and ride scheme made possible by the temporary congestion charge will be continuing for a further two months. 

“Use of Redbridge Park and Ride is up by a significant 63 per cent. More people choosing to use park and ride services contributes to reducing traffic on Oxford's roads, leading to faster journey times for bus passengers. What's more, ridership on local buses is also showing encouraging growth, following the introduction of the council's congestion charge scheme, and our corresponding service improvements.  

“Now that we have data on the real-world traffic conditions being seen under the congestion charge, we'll be making some further changes to our timetables to improve reliability from 22 February, and details of these will be announced soon." 

Chris Hanson, Managing Director of Stagecoach West said: “We are delighted that the free park and ride scheme has been extended for a further two months. So far this has proved popular with a 53 per cent uplift at park and ride sites on Stagecoach services, which is fantastic. I am confident this will continue in the scheme’s extension. 

“Park and ride is a fantastic way to travel into Oxford and, alongside the temporary congestion charge, is helping to take traffic off our historic streets. 

“We have also introduced a number of new cross city links from both Oxford Parkway Park and Ride and Redbridge Park and Ride, creating new connections for our communities.” 

Up to two adults and three children with a valid park and ride parking ticket are able to claim free travel to and from park and ride sites in the city. The tickets are valid on any Stagecoach, Oxford Bus Company or Thames Travel bus that stops at a park and ride site in Oxford, not just named park and ride services.  

Notes to editors

• 119,172 more journeys were made from park and rides on Oxford Bus Company services from 29 October 2025 to 3 January 2026, compared to the same period last year.
• This represents 44.6 per cent growth and equates to an additional 10,833 people using park and ride each week, when compared to last year.
• Over 60,000 more journeys were made on Stagecoach park and ride services during the same period, compared to the year before. This represents a 53 per cent growth.
• The site with the largest growth was Redbridge with 63 per cent increase in passengers having been recorded. This is also the busiest park and ride site currently (for Oxford Bus Company services.) 

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Oxfordshire County Council is working with its contractor M Group Limited to widen traffic lanes and make improvements to traffic signals between the George Street and Bridge Street junctions. When finished, the improvements will make bus journeys through Banbury town centre more reliable, while creating safer pedestrian crossings at junctions.

Night work on the Bridge Street and George Street junctions will run throughout January, as part of a seven month construction programme.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “This project aims to maintain Banbury’s bus services in the long-term, focused at two busy junctions. When the work is finished this summer, Banbury will benefit from better pedestrian crossings and improved access for buses, making the town centre more accessible and more attractive to travel to on foot or by bus. We also plan to connect this work up to other improvements planned for cyclists in the future.

“January is a busy first month for this project, and what we are doing on site will change frequently. Temporary traffic lights and signage will always be in place along with diversion routes to keep people safe. I recommend people plan their journeys in advance and go through the road works carefully.”

The work involves improving the current George Street bus lane; access for buses into Bridge Street west; and the crossing facilities and signalling at the Bridge Street and George Street junctions.

The configuration of work areas, lane closures and pedestrian diversions will change throughout January. Access for businesses and emergency services will always be maintained. Smart traffic lights with remote monitoring will help manage congestion and keep traffic moving.

Night work is being used to minimise daytime disruption.

Construction will take place simultaneously at the George Street and Bridge Street junctions, to enable the project to finish in summer 2026.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Key elements of the improvement project include:

·       A longer running lane for left-turning vehicles (including buses) on Cherwell Street.

·       Upgraded pedestrian facilities with new crossings to benefit people walking, cycling, and wheeling.

·       Optimised traffic signals along Cherwell Street and the area between the George Street and Bridge Street junctions.

·       Enhanced road markings and signage to improve traffic flow and safety.

The scheme is funded from Department for Transport Bus Service Improvement Plan monies with local developer Section 106 contributions paying for the pedestrian safety improvements.

Sign up for regular updates and full details of the improvements by visiting Oxfordshire County Council’s website, where more information on forthcoming construction phases can also be found: oxfordshire.gov.uk/cherwellstreetbus

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The routes of the B3, 488 and 489 buses have been updated to drop passengers directly outside the station entrance.

These changes to Banbury’s local bus network will improve journeys between Banbury town centre, the rail station, Cherwell Heights, Bodicote, Longford Park and Chipping Norton.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “This is a major step forward for joined up travel in Banbury, strengthening our local bus network and making it easier for everyone to connect between bus and rail.

“Travel hubs like the rail station are vital to Banbury’s continued growth and prosperity, offering safer, sustainable and more convenient travel options and supporting our ambition for Banbury to be a thriving, accessible town.

“I am so pleased that the long-awaited Tramway Road project is almost complete, with one more drop off area being constructed this spring. This is about providing residents and visitors with the reliable, future-ready services our communities deserve and enabling greater use of public transport for everyday journeys.”

Residents can familiarise themselves with the new B3, 488 and 489 routes and timetables by visiting Stagecoach Bus’ website. The changes came into effect on Sunday 4 January 2026.

Chris Hanson, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: “We’ve made targeted changes to the B3, 488 and 489 services to better meet the needs of passengers travelling to and from Banbury station. By adjusting routes and timetables to take advantage of the new access via Tramway Road, we’re improving reliability, punctuality and day to day convenience for our customers. These service improvements are about delivering practical, dependable connections and making public transport a more attractive choice for local journeys.”

Oxfordshire County Council working with its contractor M Group Limited started construction of the Banbury Railway Station access improvement project in October 2024, with the provision of new bus stops and a bus only route along Station Approach Road north a central part of the project.

Work has now been completed on a new roundabout, a new section of Tramway Road and a Tramway Road footpath. New drainage, surfacing, lighting, fencing and landscaping have also been installed in the station west car park A, along Station Approach Road north and in the station forecourt.

The west car park reopened in December, providing access to standard, disabled and enlarged parking bays at the back of the station.

The last phase of construction, which involves a new drop off facility planned for land to the south of the new roundabout, is expected to be built in spring 2026, subject to land agreements.

Notes for editors

Updates to the Banbury bus routes and timetables can be found on Stagecoach Bus’ website.

·       Service B3: Now connects Banbury town centre, Banbury Railway Station forecourt, Cherwell Heights, Bodicote, and Longford Park. Buses will run every half an hour, starting at 6.36am and ending at 7.50pm, Monday to Friday; every half an hour starting at 7.06am and ending at 7.43pm on Saturday; and every hour starting at 8.12am and ending at 6.12pm on Sundays.

·       Services 488 and 489: Now link Banbury with Chipping Norton, providing revised routes that serve the Banbury railway station forecourt using Tramway Road and Hightown Road. These services will no longer call at George Street, High Street, or Banbury Cross, but continued hospital connectivity is assured using stops on Hightown Road. Buses will run roughly once an hour, starting at 6.01am and ending at 7.07pm, Monday to Friday; once an hour starting at 6.16am and ending at 5.42pm on Saturday; and roughly once every two hours starting at 8.01am and ending at 5.42pm on Sundays.

Photo

1. From left to right: Paul Wooster, Area Manager, Chiltern Railway; Trevor Bayliss, Operations Manager, Witney Depot, Stagecoach West; Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action; Chris Hanson, Managing Director, Stagecoach West; Councillor Liz Leffman, Charlbury and Wychwood, Leader, Oxfordshire County Council; Chris Dyer, Head of Service, Transport & Property Infrastructure Delivery, Environment & Highways, Oxfordshire County Council.

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A monitoring inspection to assess progress began on 15 September and ended with onsite activity between 29 September and 1 October 2025. Ofsted and CQC found that the local area partnership has taken effective action in all five areas that were previously identified as priorities.

The review recognised strengthened governance, improved communication and enhanced opportunities for children, young people and their families to contribute to service planning and evaluation.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “We have been working extremely hard across the local area partnership to make necessary improvements following the 2023 inspection. Ofsted and the CQC’s latest report makes it clear that real progress is now being made and I praise our dedicated teams for their tireless efforts over many months.

“However, we will never allow ourselves to be complacent. The inspectors’ report is a significant milestone, providing valuable feedback and recommendations to ensure going forward there will be consistency across every aspect of SEND provision.

“We will continue to listen and involve families on this important journey of improvement for children and young people.”

During the monitoring visit, inspectors spoke to local area leaders, parents and carers of children and young people with SEND, and education, health and social care professionals. They also met with representatives of the parent carers forum (PCF) and other organised parent groups, the Department for Education and regional NHS England. They reviewed the performance of the local area partnership in addressing the priority actions identified at the initial inspection, including the priority action plan, self-evaluation and a range of evidence.

The inspectors noted that improved systems have been put in place for gathering and acting on the views of children and young people with SEND. The partnership has strengthened governance and leadership structures to ensure stable representation of partners and stakeholders, including the PCF, at the SEND Improvement and Assurance Board to help shape improvements. Leaders have developed a range of groups and committees that feed into this board, including the SEND Youth Forum and SEND Together events.

Inspectors recognised that clearer communication structures and increased partnership working are helping to better meet children’s needs. Professionals and services are working together more closely and are beginning to improve their use of children and young people’s views to help plan their support. This is starting to improve experiences for children and young people with SEND and their families.

The timeliness and quality of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) have improved overall, with swifter decision making and improved waiting times for needs assessments.

There are clear processes in place to help ensure that children and young people with SEND only access services that have been quality assured by the local authority. Leaders have created improved oversight to ensure that children and young people with SEND use suitable and safe provision that meets their needs more effectively.

School leaders have also benefitted from increased training provided by the partnership. In some schools, partnership-funded enhanced pathways have been implemented to support the inclusion of all children and young people with SEND. As a result, many children and young people’s needs are being more effectively met in mainstream settings.

Successful pilot projects in areas such as speech and language screening were cited as positive examples of joint commissioning arrangements to enhance services and support for SEND children and young people. However, concerns were noted in terms of the potential long-term sustainability of some initiatives.

Inspectors confirmed that partnership leaders now have effective oversight of the progress and impact of initiatives designed to improve the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND. The strengthened partnership structure brings together health, social care, education and parents effectively enabling a move towards more effective collaborative working. The partnership has stable foundations for improvement, and the systems to monitor and measure the impacts.

Dr Nick Broughton, Chief Executive at NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board, said: “We’re making real progress since the 2023 inspection thanks to the dedication of our teams, but we know there’s more to do. We’ll keep working with families to ensure every child and young person receives the consistent, high quality support they deserve.”

Inspectors made a number of recommendations, encouraging the local area partnership to continue to expand and strengthen opportunities for children, young people and families to share their views and influence decisions, particularly for those whose voices are less often heard.

The report recognised leaders know they have more work to do to build confidence with families, ensuring their opinions, and those of their children, are integral to future improvements.

Work must continue to address inconsistencies in communication between education and health services to provide a truly coordinated approach for all children and young people with SEND.

The inspectors emphasised a need for ongoing consistent quality assurance and regular reviews of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) so that all children receive detailed and appropriate support as their needs change.

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission stressed that while effective action has been taken by the partnership, continued effort is required to sustain and build on these improvements. The local area partnership has been asked to update its SEND priority action plan as a result of the monitoring inspection.

Notes

• A copy of the latest report from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission is available online.
• In July 2023, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission undertook a local area partnership inspection of SEND services.
• The local area partnership includes Oxfordshire County Council, NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB), Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Oxfordshire Parent Carers Forum (OxPCF), the official body for the voice of parent carers. 

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Last year in Oxfordshire, 94.59 per cent of primary school children were allocated their first preference school.

There are currently over 50,000 primary pupils in Oxfordshire and over 230 primary schools.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “Our school admissions team will always do their very best to meet parental preference where possible.

"Please do name four schools. This will not make it less likely that your first preference will be offered, however, it does reduce the risk of all preferences being unsuccessful and your child being allocated a place at a school that is not named on their list.

“I encourage you to please apply on time because late applications will be processed later in the year and are far less likely to secure places at preferred schools than applications received before the deadline.” 

Applications should be submitted online at: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/primaryadmissions

The deadline for submitting completed applications is 15 January 2026.

Parents and carers will then be contacted with the result to their application on National Offer Day, 16 April 2026.

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On Wednesday 29 October, Oxfordshire County Council launched its scheme to reduce congestion to make buses quicker and more reliable and walking and cycling safer and more attractive. 

To coincide with the launch of the temporary congestion charge, the council is offering free park and ride bus travel. Up to two adults and three children with a valid park and ride parking ticket are able to claim free travel from park and ride sites in the city. 

The tickets will be valid on any Stagecoach, Oxford Bus Company or Thames Travel bus that visits an Oxford park and ride site, not just branded park and ride services.  

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management said: “The temporary congestion charge is part of a range of measures to deliver our vision enshrined in our Local Transport and Connectivity Plan: better public transport, cleaner air, safer roads and better conditions for walking, cycling and wheeling. 

“We will be watching the impacts carefully as residents, visitors and businesses adjust to the temporary congestion charge.” 

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company said: "It's been an encouraging start to the council's new temporary congestion charge scheme, with some noticeable reductions in traffic congestion being seen from our real-time data. We've already seen more than 10,000 people taking up the new free park and ride offer on our services, and a 10 per cent increase in the overall use of park and ride in line with our initial expectations. 

“While we did have some challenges with roadworks affecting the Redbridge site on the first day of operation, these were swiftly resolved and we're looking forward to seeing our wide-ranging service enhancements coming into force from this coming Sunday, 9 November." 

Chris Hanson, Managing Director for Stagecoach West said: “The introduction of the Oxford temporary congestion charge has proven to be a success thus far, encouraging a noticeable shift towards more sustainable modes of transport. We are keen to see even more people making the switch to bus travel as a reliable, affordable, and environmentally friendly way to move around the city, with our service improvements taking place this month.” 

The temporary congestion charge is in place at points on six roads in Oxford. Cars with permits and all other vehicles can pass through the charge locations for free. Without a permit, a charge of £5 per day will be payable to drive a car through the six congestion charge locations. 

Over 63,000 permits have been issued to date. Permit applications can be made from the county council website, including for residents, traders, carers and blue badge holders. To find out about different permits and exemptions, visit the congestion charge website. 

Those driving in a car without a permit can pay the congestion charge online by midnight on the day after driving through one of the six charge locations – no account is needed. You can also pay in advance for multiple days – this option requires you to open an account. There is also an option to pay by phone.  

Notes

• Each congestion charge location covers just one point on the road. Cars can use the road on either side of these locations at any time without a permit.
• There are directional signs providing drivers advance warning of the charging locations. Traffic signs show when and where the congestion charge applies to cars, and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras enforce the restrictions.
• Residents can get a limited number of day passes each year, and some groups are eligible for permits for unlimited travel.
• Locations and operating times:
  • Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way - Monday to Saturday - At peak times between 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm
  • Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement’s Street and Thames Street - Monday to Sunday - 7am to 7pm
• During the first six weeks of the temporary charge, the council will send a letter the first time any car goes through a congestion charge point without paying or using a permit, instead of sending a penalty charge notice.
• Monitoring data for the scheme will be published monthly. The scheme will remain in place until the traffic filters trial is introduced, once Botley Road reopens, expected to be August 2026.

You can find out more about the congestion charge, how to pay, who’s eligible for a free permit and how to apply at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/congestioncharge

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The sessions organised by Oxfordshire County Council’s music service – for children in school years 4-6 and for girls aged 11-16 – aim to build on the success of a similar project attended by 15 young people last year, when 13 tracks were produced.

The project gives children and young people an opportunity to learn how to make their own music using digital audio workstation (DAW) software on iPads and MacBook Pros.

They learn to create their own original tracks and cover versions, using loops, playing keyboards and singing or rapping in a portable recording studio setup.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Blending technology with music is an exciting way to develop interest among young people, unlocking a creative talent they might not even know they possess, and who knows a future career as a recording artist or producer.

“These and other themed creative sessions also provide an incentive to attend the youth club, to make new friends and with the added bonus of learning something exciting away from the school classroom.

“We believe every young person should have a chance to access musical learning and our music service supports school children through a wide range of genres, from today’s contemporary pop music to more traditional choirs, chamber groups and orchestras. 

"Parents and guardians of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds can apply for funding for their child to access music tuition or hire instruments from Oxfordshire County Council’s music service.”

Rose Hill Junior Youth Club works with communities in two of the most deprived wards in Oxfordshire, with their free sessions providing safe, meaningful, creative and healthy activities designed to improve participants’ self-confidence, social skills, and independence.

Aimee Winkfield, Interim Director at Rose Hill Junior Youth Club, said: “The music tech sessions are an absolutely fantastic addition to our after school youth clubs, and the young people really enjoyed creating their own tracks and dancing along with the beats they made before the summer holidays.

“We are looking forward to resuming these sessions at our girls' club and also introducing them to children aged eight to 10 at our junior sessions in November. It’s wonderful to be able to access such enriching and creative activities and share with the community, through our youth clubs.”

Further information about Oxfordshire County Council’s music service is available on the council’s website.

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A set of proposals will be consulted on, designed to ensure that, as Oxfordshire grows and changes its fire stations, resources, and people are in the right place at the right time to meet the needs of communities and improve the safety, efficiency and resilience of the service.  

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has recently completed a review of how it delivers its emergency response and community safety across the county. 

Considerations included how, where and when wholetime and on-call firefighters operate to enable the service to better meet demand day and night across all of Oxfordshire. This includes improving both emergency response times and expanding the reach of vital prevention and protection services to all communities.  

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s fire and rescue service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “It’s important that we regularly review our resources, understand where incidents are most likely to happen and ensure we have the right level of emergency cover in those areas.  

“We provide a fire and rescue service for the people of Oxfordshire, and I want them to play an active role in helping us plan and shape the future of the service by participating in our public consultation.” 

On-call firefighter staffing levels continue to decline in Oxfordshire, with a 36 per cent reduction in the number of full-time equivalent on-call firefighters over the last 10 years. This is affecting the ability to respond to emergencies when demand is highest, which is during the day. 

There is currently greater availability of resource – fire engines and firefighters – at night when demand is lowest, and lower availability during the day when demand is higher. This impacts response times in the day.  

The public consultation will seek views on a range of proposals designed to:  

• Match resources to risk, based on an understanding of where incidents are most likely to happen across Oxfordshire to ensure that the right level of cover is available in those areas.
• Improve community safety, with the service enhancing its prevention and protection work. This important service will be reshaped to meet the changing needs of Oxfordshire’s population.
• Futureproof the service by reviewing how it operates currently, which will help in making informed decisions that ensure long-term sustainability and resilience.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing and Safety, said: “Your feedback is really important in helping us provide an even better fire and rescue service. The more opinions we receive, the more we can be confident that the decisions we take at the end of the consultation will deliver the kind of fire and rescue service you want across Oxfordshire.”

Public consultation

The public consultation includes a number of options that directly involve Rewley Road fire station in Oxford and the resources that are currently based there.                      

The option that is central to the consultation involves creating five day shift fire engines in Wallingford (or Crowmarsh), Faringdon, Witney, Bicester and Chipping Norton. This will be done by the reallocation of firefighters from existing roles including crewing on one of Rewley Road’s fire engines. This is to help address fire engine staffing levels elsewhere in the county. 

This main proposal includes removing the on-call fire engine away from Rewley Road fire station due to very low levels of staffing over many years. Despite the commitment of the on-call at Rewley Road and the efforts made to boost recruitment, between July 2022 and March 2024, Rewley Road on-call provided less than five percent of staffing hours that are needed during the day and only nine percent availability at night. 

A further option involves moving the fire engines from Rewley Road and Kidlington fire stations to a new fire station location towards the north of Oxford, to improve response times to the surrounding area as well as creating a more accessible station for firefighters outside the city centre.

For Thame, one of the proposals involves removal of the second fire engine at the town’s fire station which, despite the committed efforts of the local crews, has low availability and attends on average only 17 incidents a year in Oxfordshire. 

This move, whilst having no significant impact to first response time to primary fires and road traffic collisions, would allow the employees based at the fire station to focus their efforts on ensuring that just one fire engine is made available. 

No closures have been confirmed, however, three on-call fire stations – Woodstock, Eynsham, Henley – have been considered for closure due to persistent low fire engine availability.  

This is because, despite the dedication of on-call employees, the pressures of modern life often mean that many of them are unable to commit to offering the hours that they once might have; they make themselves available based on their outside of the fire service work and family commitments.  

These closures, should they proceed, are forecast to have a minimal impact on overall response performance due to the ability to deliver a fire engine response from surrounding stations, which is already often the case. 

The consultation will be available on Let’s Talk Oxfordshire from Tuesday 28 October 2025.  

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The council is one of the few in the country that continues to invest significantly in youth services, despite having no statutory obligation to do so.

The funding will be used to help shape a sustainable model for youth services that can be adopted both locally and nationally.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Youth work is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is a cornerstone of our preventative approach, helping young people build resilience, access opportunities, and thrive in their communities.

“We’re not required to provide our targeted youth support service (TYSS) – we do so because we believe passionately that support should be in place locally for young people at risk of exploitation, youth violence, and social isolation.

“That’s why it is a privilege that we’ve been chosen by the government to further design youth support that is futureproof, inclusive of voluntary and grassroots organisations, and responsive to the needs of our diverse communities.”

This new funding from government will not be invested directly by Oxfordshire County Council. Over the next few months it will be distributed among local partners that provide youth support, for them to allocate to projects across the county.

Oxfordshire County Council already runs a targeted youth support service, working directly with children and young people from across Oxfordshire, aged 11-18 (up to 25 years for those with additional needs), and was originally launched in 2021.

Its work includes one-to-one support for young people to identify aspirations, build confidence and strengthen their community connections. Group work in schools addresses key issues such as exploitation, violence against women and girls, and risks associated with social media.

Detached street based youth work responds to local communities affected by crime and anti-social behaviour, building positive relationships in young people’s own neighbourhoods.

The council recently initiated a peer review involving the National Youth Agency, representatives from the youth sector, as well as trained young reviewers, to ensure the service continues to meet the needs and aspirations of the young people it serves and supports.

Participants praised the clear sense of purpose of the youth support service, purposefully developed through good recruitment, with a clear remit and a flexible approach to need. It was evident there is a person centred, strength based approach to supporting individual young people’s needs and circumstances.

The reviewers observed that quality detached youth work is being delivered in some areas of the county, with youth workers knowing their communities and engaging with diverse and underrepresented groups.

Councillor Sean Gaul, said: “We are committed to supporting young people holistically. By working in partnership with schools, community organisations, police, and health services, we explore community based solutions to broader challenges such as emotional wellbeing and school engagement.

“Additionally, we collaborate with the voluntary sector, recognising that local communities know their young people best and are key to shaping effective, inclusive support.”

Further information about the targeted youth support service is available on the Oxme website.

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Sentencing took place at Oxford Crown Court on Monday 15 September 2025, following conviction at Oxford Magistrates Court earlier in the year (Thursday 24 July 2025).

Fire safety inspectors from Oxfordshire County Council’s fire and rescue service visited the premises in March 2024. They found that the business owner, Mr Khalique Choudhury, had failed to ensure there was an adequate risk assessment of fire, failed to protect escape routes in case of fire, and failed to provide a working fire alarm and detection system.

The restaurant was operating on the ground floor and had bedrooms provided for staff accommodation above on the first floor.

A fire safety audit was conducted under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and inspectors found that the premises were so dangerous that they were left with no alternative but to prohibit the use of the building for sleeping until safety measures were improved.

As, a consequence, they ordered the immediate removal of the occupants of the bedrooms on safety grounds by use of a prohibition notice, so that it could not to be used for sleeping.

An investigation resulted in Mr Choudhury appearing in court where the former business owner pleaded guilty to four charges under the fire safety legislation and fine for those charges. He was also ordered to pay a total of £6,284 in costs.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “The vast majority of Oxfordshire businesses operate to the highest standards, rightly protecting their customers, staff and their livelihoods. I’m very grateful to the officers in this case, who are out there every day not only to protect the public, but to also ensure that those businesses following the rules can compete on a level playing field.”

Jody Kerman, Head of Oxfordshire County Council’s Prevention, Protection and Trading Standards teams, said: “Our fire safety inspectors are finding an increasing number of businesses with sleeping accommodation above, where no fire safety measures have been implemented. Business owners have a legal duty to put fire safety measures in place, and as this case shows, we will not hesitate to take action to ensure the safety of occupants, residents and customers.”

Issuing of a prohibition notice restricts the use of any premises providing accommodation that does not meet the accepted standards of fire safety. Responsible persons – business owners or employers – must accept that they have a duty of care to ensure the accommodation they provide is safe and suitable.

Any businessperson or employee can seek fire safety advice by emailing fire.service@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s vision is to work every day to save and improve the lives of people across the county.

The owner of a kitchen worktop manufacturer in Thame has also been sentenced for a series of fire safety breaches; receiving an eight-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.

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Sentencing took place at Oxford Crown Court on Monday 15 September 2025, following conviction at Oxford Magistrates Court earlier in the year (Thursday 24 July 2025).

Fire safety inspectors from Oxfordshire County Council’s fire and rescue service visited the premises in February 2023. They found that the business owner, Mr Zdzislaw Fircowicz, had failed to ensure there was an adequate risk assessment of fire, failed to protect escape routes in case of fire, and failed to provide a working fire alarm and detection system.

The business was operating within an industrial unit where staff were being allowed to sleep on the mezzanine floor, without adequate fire safety arrangements in place.

A fire safety audit was conducted under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and inspectors found that the premises were so dangerous that they were left with no alternative but to prohibit the use of the building for sleeping until safety measures were improved.

As a consequence, they ordered the immediate removal of the occupants of the flats on safety grounds by use of a prohibition notice, so that it could not to be used for sleeping.

An investigation resulted in Mr Fircowicz being found guilty of four charges under the fire safety legislation. He was also ordered to pay a total of £2,500 in costs.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “Businesses that ‘cut corners’ not only put the public and environment at risk, but they gain an unfair advantage over their competitors. This is made even worse when it relates to such important fire safety requirements.”

Jody Kerman, Head of Oxfordshire County Council’s Prevention, Protection and Trading Standards teams, said: “Through the use of both targeted inspections and from acting on complaints, our fire safety inspectors are finding an increasing number of businesses where there is unsafe and inappropriate sleeping accommodation and a lack of fire safety measures being implemented. This is a very dangerous mix and, as this case shows, we will not hesitate to take action to ensure the safety of occupants, residents and customers.”

Issuing of a prohibition notice restricts the use of any premises providing accommodation that does not meet the accepted standards of fire safety. Responsible persons – business owners or employers – must accept that they have a duty of care to ensure the accommodation they provide is safe and suitable.

Any businessperson or employee can seek fire safety advice by emailing fire.service@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s vision is to work every day to save and improve the lives of people across the county.

The former owner of an Indian restaurant in Watlington has also been fined for a series of fire safety breaches; sentenced to a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, a £1,700 fine and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

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For years she has championed disability rights and accessible employment opportunities, Now she’s landed a job with Oxfordshire County Council as its special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) media support officer for supported internships.

The former Marlborough C of E School pupil and Abingdon and Witney College student proved herself at the council during a supported internship and at the end of it she was given a year long contract in the SEND role.

Maisy said: “There are so many opportunities for me, I can’t thank Oxfordshire County Council enough. I can even show off my creative side, developing a comic strip newsletter for young people, designed to be accessible to children and young people with SEND.

“I plan to visit one of the local colleges to interview students participating in a supported internship, sharing my own experiences, and with the goal of gathering ideas and information about ways to make workplaces more accessible and inclusive.”

To help Maisy complete the application and interview for both her supported internship and salaried role, Lydia Martin, senior SEND project officer at Oxfordshire County Council, made sure that the application process was accessible, meaning Maisy could compete on a level playing field with other candidates.

A job coach helped her prepare, including practice in answering anticipated questions before she went in front of the interview panel for real.

As Maisy’s line manager, Lydia makes sure they are both based on the ground floor of County Hall close to other colleagues. An adjustable desk is available for Maisy – she often works in a reclining position to avoid back pain – and her work pattern is carefully planned with regular short breaks, helping her concentrate on tasks more effectively.

Regular support from job coaches, within the council’s supported employment team – and paid for through national government’s access to work fund – ensures Maisy’s confidence and abilities continue to grow.

Maisy’s passion to make a difference goes above and beyond, so much so that she volunteers on Oxfordshire County Council’s SEND Youth Forum.

Also in her own time, she has recorded matchday experiences as a wheelchair user watching Oxford United FC, with the aim of helping the club make their stadium an even more accessible place. Although this work has been voluntary, it was really a “no brainer” for Maisy, she is a passionate ‘U’s’ fan!

Maisy said: “I want to be a voice for people with my condition, showing how widespread cerebral palsy is and how it can impact people in different ways. This has created another opportunity for me at the council, where I recently contributed to a new arts and culture project; the aim is to encourage more local organisations to be accessible for people with different conditions.

“If I can get people thinking about disability and special educational needs in a more positive way by showcasing what we can contribute to employers and society in general, then I will fly the flag and blow the trumpet until people listen and act.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s supported internships are education programmes for young people aged 16 - 25 with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), allowing work and study at the same time.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “I am determined that, where possible, our council embraces opportunities to give SEND young people opportunities to gain valuable work experience, and if they prove themselves and roles are available there’ll be potential for getting salaried jobs with us.

“I am therefore overjoyed by Maisy’s success. She is passionate and clearly wants to make a difference for those with a disability or who need extra support. It is these can-do strengths, this drive that we’re looking for. Her qualities shine through, and everyone is delighted that Maisy is now employed by the council, and in a role where she can make a difference to other young people.”

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Advice can be found at oxme.info and on the National Careers Service’s website, or through its helpline 0800 100 900.

Young people interested in apprenticeships can visit a number of websites for further information: oxme, Gov.UK or UCAS.

While those who haven’t got the grades needed for their planned next steps and may be rethinking their college or sixth form options, the council encourages them to speak to their school’s careers officer, form tutor or head of year.

Students can also contact Activate Learning, Abingdon and Witney College or Henley College if further education is a preferred option.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Well done to GCSE students who received their desired results. However, I know this is a day of mixed emotions, with some of you not attaining the grades you’d hoped for.

“For every student completing their GCSEs, you now have to decide what to do next, consider your options or adjust your plans.

“There are many choices, from continuing in education to beginning work, starting a career or an apprenticeship or embarking on a training programme.

“Support is available through a number of services that offer help for young people.

“I’d like to thank the wide number of educational professionals who have taught, coached and mentored our young people during their time in Oxfordshire’s schools and colleges.”

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Help is on offer about continuing in education to seeking employment or training.

Advice can be found at oxme.info and on the National Careers Service’s website or through its helpline 0800 100 900.

Young people interested in apprenticeships can visit a number of websites for further information: oxme, Gov.UK or UCAS.

While those who haven’t got the grades necessary for higher education or their university of choice, there are options. Students can access key advice from UCAS or can read the education hub blog on Gov.UK.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “As always, results day is one of mixed emotions, from celebrations to disappointments with many students asking ‘what do I do next?’

“Some students will have a clear way forward. However, for others, it will be a time of reflection, considering options or adjusting their plans.

“There are many choices available, from higher education, like university, to beginning work, starting a career on an apprenticeship or embarking on a training programme.

“Support is available through a number of services that offer help for young people.

“I’d like to thank the wide number of educational professionals who have taught, coached and mentored our young people during their time in Oxfordshire’s schools and colleges.”

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Will Reeves wants to transform lessons, making them exciting and interactive for children, using deep rooted music that runs through the local community as his starting point.

Helped by Oxfordshire County Council’s music service, pupils can now eagerly look forward to hands-on learning in history, geography and art, and a day of destiny at Fairport's Cropredy Convention.

The event runs from 7-9 August, and the pupils will be the first act on stage on Friday 8 August.

Will explains: “Our young people were missing an opportunity by not learning about folk music, which is a huge part of the Cropredy community, I was determined to change that.

“Supported by the county council’s brilliant peripatetic folk teacher and singer, Katie Harris, I shared my dream of the school’s children playing at a major event.

“We put our heads together, used our shared vision and contacts to open doors, and now things have fallen into place, some of our pupils will be performing in front of over 6,000 people at the Fairport Convention festival in Cropredy.”

However, preparing for the folk festival is only part of Will’s masterplan, he’s completely overhauled the rest of the school’s curriculum to give it a musical theme.

Pupils have been learning about local history through subtle music connections, such as ‘Red and Gold’ (a Fairport Convention song). The lyrics are about the Battle of Cropredy Bridge in 1644, during the English civil war, when Parliamentary soldiers failed in their attempt to capture King Charles I.

The humanities have been transformed too, with children learning about the canal system that flows through Cropredy. Geography and art fieldwork around the waterways and meadows of Fairport prove much more interesting than classroom work.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “For most school children, it’s nerve-wracking enough standing up in the school hall, so imagine the jitters, also the incredible excitement, for those lucky Cropredy primary pupils who will be performing in front of thousands of people at Fairport's Cropredy Convention.

“Across Oxfordshire, many pupils supported by our music service have special educational needs and disabilities. Music is a way for them to express themselves, overcome their challenges and provides them with aspirations and goals.

“At Cropredy Church of England Primary School, they’ve taken it to another level. Here music is central to the whole learning and development experience. I congratulate the headteacher and his team for having the foresight and determination to turn a vision into reality for the benefit of young people.”

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The work significantly enhances digital connectivity across the county's rural and public service sites, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to improve connectivity through its digital infrastructure programme. 

The GigaHubs project in Oxfordshire – jointly funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the council – has introduced gigabit capable broadband at schools, GP practices, fire stations, libraries, leisure centres, community centres, and museums, including in rural areas where fibre infrastructure is difficult and expensive to provide.

Funding from the council was sourced from income generated by its digital infrastructure programme.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: "The GigaHubs project has transformed the digital landscape of Oxfordshire, enabling libraries, community centres, schools and GP practices to offer enhanced services to residents.

“The successful collaboration with Neos Networks and other industry leaders has ensured that even the most remote areas now have access to reliable, high speed internet. This initiative supports our broader goals of reducing carbon emissions, promoting digital inclusion, and fostering community engagement."

The project was managed by Neos Networks with subcontractors Openreach, Virgin Media Business, and Gigaclear.

Improved connectivity enables public service sites to offer enhanced services, support remote working, and provide high-speed internet access to local communities. By developing a highly competitive supply chain and using the best technology for each site, Neos has enabled faster provisioning of public services at significantly reduced costs.

Significant benefits have already been seen where the new infrastructure is operational. Village halls and community centres are live streaming events, meetings, clubs and classes.

In addition to providing new full fibre broadband, the digital infrastructure programme has funded three years of internet access for the 55 community centres and village halls connected through the project.

The council now has ambitions to equip the community and village halls to become community hubs offering enhanced community services, health and social care support, reducing the need for people to travel further afield to access vital public services.

The new infrastructure will also incentivise more investment from the commercial sector in rural areas now that the targeted hubs provide a way to connect homes and businesses nearby.

The project has allowed the migration from expensive leased line services to direct fibre internet services for council buildings. This has improved connectivity performance while achieving a saving of £70,000 per annum on connectivity costs for Oxfordshire County Council.

As part of the agreement with Neos, the council also secured a £20,000 social value contribution used to purchase 30 public computers, which have been installed in libraries at Oxford Westgate, Cowley, and Abingdon.

David Bruce, Chief Revenue Officer at Neos Networks, said: “The collaboration has allowed us to use our expertise and relationships to deliver real public good and support the council’s vision for a smarter, more connected Oxfordshire. This project should serve as a blueprint for other local authorities seeking to bridge the digital divide support community development.”

More information about the GigaHubs project and other digital infrastructure initiatives in Oxfordshire is available online. 

About Neos Networks

Neos Networks has the UK’s largest business-dedicated network. With over 600 points of presence and 90 data centres nationwide, Neos provides high capacity critical connectivity for businesses, from telecoms and energy to banking and emergency services. Agile and customer-focused with almost limitless scale, Neos enables emerging technologies like AI, 5G and IoT, making connectivity work for Britain. 

About GigaHubs

GigaHubs are part of Project Gigabit, the UK government’s £5 billion national mission to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband for everyone in the UK. This initiative, which began in 2021, is part of a broader strategy to enhance digital and social inclusion.

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They trip instinctively off 20 year old Sorcha Calvert’s tongue – a resident of Bampton, near Witney – as she serves guests in the café at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in Oxford.

The confidence of this Abingdon and Witney College student is unrecognisable from a year ago, when the then self-doubting teenager was grappling with dyslexia and dyspraxia.

Oxfordshire County Council provided a tailored educational, health and care plan (EHCP), alongside a supported internship – through its employment team – to pave the way for her valuable work experience.

Sorcha said: “I’d always wanted to work in the hotel industry. I love meeting people, so hospitality felt perfect with ever changing guests who nearly always want a coffee, snack or to dine in the restaurant.

“But where do you start? Finding a job is daunting for anyone, even more so when you’ve got additional needs and dyslexia like me. But I was determined and made my approach to the Leonardo Royal Hotel in Oxford at a job fair. Then the council’s brilliant internship team helped push me through the door; they had a contact who worked there.

“They explained to the manager how well I was progressing at college, emphasising my willingness to learn and that I’m a natural people person.

“Here I am, three months later, the internship has been such a success that I’ve been taken on permanently, initially in the café – thanks to my mastery of the many types of coffee – and with opportunities to progress to eventually work in the restaurant.”

The council’s supported internship team continue to provide ongoing assistance, such as help completing forms and paperwork required by Sorcha’s hotel employer. And in accessing training and development opportunities offered by the Leonardo Royal group.

Madalina Duminica, Food and Beverage Director for the Leonardo Royal Hotel Oxford, said: “Sorcha joined us just over six weeks ago, initially shy and unsure, but with support and guidance, she quickly grew in confidence and ability. She has blossomed into an exceptional team member, friendly, approachable, and always willing to go the extra mile for both guests and colleagues.

“Her positive attitude, professionalism and dedication make her a true asset, and I’m excited to see her continue to grow and thrive in her hospitality career.

“Leonardo Hotels are delighted to participate in numerous employment programmes throughout the UK and Sorcha is one of many team members who have begun their employment journey in this way. 

“We are proud of our dedicated teams and we wish Sorcha all the best in her new role.”

Sorcha’s commitment to the role is apparent from the lengths she takes to get there, a bus commute of over 90 minutes each way from her home in Bampton, near Witney.

Oxfordshire County Council is aiming to make a difference to reduce this time consuming and often inconvenient journey by negotiating funding for taxi fares through central government’s Access to Work scheme.

Once this is in place Sorcha’s shifts will no longer be restricted to daytime bus timetable hours. She’ll be able to do evening work in the restaurant in the secure knowledge that regardless how late she finishes, a taxi will be available to get her home safely.

Oxfordshire County Council’s supported internships are education programmes for young people aged 16 - 25 with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), allowing work and study at the same time.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Sorcha is a shining example of the positive difference our supported internship programme can make to young people on an education, health and care plan.

“Sorcha is ambitious and determined, she just needed a helping hand to overcome some challenges, and now she’s secured employment in the sector of her choice. The team at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in Oxford saw her potential and it makes me very proud that we’ve played a part in what I’m sure will be a successful career for her in the hospitality sector. Well done Sorcha.”

Rachel Thorne, Supported Internship Course Tutor at Abingdon and Witney College, said: The Supported internship team are all incredibly proud of Sorcha. She has approached her course with hard work, dedication and a positive attitude which have really paid off. She has grown in confidence and skills during her time with us and we couldn't be happier to see her move on into her new role.”

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Oxfordshire has many rivers, streams, canals. Activities that are known to lead to the highest number of fatalities are walking, running, swimming, jumping or diving in.

There are many hazards under the surface that might entrap a person or cause serious injury. Using supervised venues or swimming pools is much safer.

Deb Forder, Safety Manager for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Open water can look appealing, but it is also very dangerous. That is why the practical advice we’re offering is so important, particularly during the summer when residents are more likely to be tempted to take a dip.

“Please consider things such as letting friends and family know your route near water and what time you should return. Carry a whistle to draw attention if you do get into difficulties.

“If you fall in, remember to relax, lean back and float until you can control your breathing.”

Anyone witnessing someone in trouble in the water should call 999 or 112 and shout for help. They shouldn’t enter the water themselves; instead throw something in that will float.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service warns that there are other dangers of open water. Be aware that:

• Reservoirs, lakes, rivers and other inland water may look safe and inviting, however, there are hidden dangers below the surface that could make people ill, cause injury, even kill. This could be anything from large rocks to machinery, shopping trolleys to branches, even fish hooks or a broken fishing line.
• Even on a warm day, the temperature of the water in a reservoir, quarry or lake can remain very cold. The low water temperature can numb limbs and claim lives.
• Moving water, such as rivers, might look calm, however, there could be strong currents below the surface. Even reservoirs have currents, caused by working machinery. Whether or not someone is a strong swimmer, currents can carry them into danger.

Deb added: “Respect the water, even if you’re a good swimmer and familiar with the river, lake or reservoir. Be water aware.”

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In its written contribution, the council says that despite rapidly rising expenditure, reports from the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee show that outcomes are not improving nationally for children and young people with SEND, and neither have families’ day to day experiences of the system.

The council explained that it believes the current SEND system is unsustainable and requires immediate and comprehensive reforms to meet the growing number of children and young people requiring support.

Its evidence to the committee focuses on actions required to stabilise the system, such as increased funding, which would then allow more time for necessary medium to long-term reforms to be implemented.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “The situation is unsustainable. The SEND high needs block deficit is expected to hit £100million in Oxfordshire by March 2026, with many other councils across the country in similar situations. The whole system is in urgent need of extensive reform.

“It’s a national problem – a national crisis – not a local one, but of course it impacts many families and children here in Oxfordshire.

“We’re calling for clarity on funding and long-term sustainable reforms to ensure we have a system fit for purpose that will meet the needs of every SEND child and young person wherever they live, and whatever their individual needs.

“Here in Oxfordshire, we are absolutely committed to supporting our children and young people with SEND and have committed significant investment in next year’s budget. However, we are acutely aware this will still not be enough and national government intervention is urgently needed.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s budget for the 2025/26 financial year, approved at its full council meeting on Tuesday 11 February includes £1.141m of extra funding for SEND services and education, health and care plans (EHCP).

A total of £641,000 of this would be additional money to complete EHCPs quicker and £500,000 to facilitate the provision of expertise from special schools focused on children with EHCPs who are in mainstream schools.

An EHCP is put in to support a young person with SEND if their educational setting doesn’t have the resources and expertise to support them.

In the council’s 2025/26 budget, there is also £2million of new money, partly funded by new government grant funding, to support families to overcome challenges at the earliest opportunity, prevent escalation and effectively intervene with problems.

Alongside this, a total of £400,000 additional funding has been allocated to cover the costs of the increase in number of children with SEND requiring home to school transport.

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The newly trained advisors will be existing teaching assistants, equipped with necessary experience for handling the unique needs of young people with SEND, helping to improve their education and career outcomes.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We aim to give every child the best start in life, paving the way for their career dreams.

“It makes so much sense to train some of our existing teaching assistants. They already have classroom experience and can start using their learning in training straightaway to deliver immediate benefits to our young people.

“Our experience shows that one to one career advice isn’t always the most effective way of engaging with SEND children, so our new specialist trainers – teaching assistants themselves – will offer a much better alternative including group interviews involving parents, support staff and the young people themselves.

“We hope these group sessions will remove barriers, giving young people confidence to ask questions, consider options, and inspire them to pursue exciting career and further education opportunities.”

Oxfordshire County Council is providing the training in collaboration with the Oxfordshire Careers Hub. Advisors will receive a Level 6 Diploma in career guidance and development from Activate Learning.

The council’s commitment to the training is in response to a shortage of qualified career advisors with experience in the needs of children and young people with SEND, and to reduce the need to hire external specialists.

The scheme is being funded by a grant from the Department for Education (DfE), designed to provide support for young people with additional needs so that they gain more choice and control over their future, providing opportunities to prepare them for adult life and independent living. This includes work experience and placements, and further education.

The career advisors will be based at seven specialist schools, spread across the county and overseen by Oxfordshire County Council.

Hannah Gordon, assistant headteacher at Fitzwaryn School in Wantage, said: “It’s a pleasure to be involved in the development of this careers guidance training, which plays a vital role in equipping staff with knowledge and confidence to support young people in making informed choices about their futures.

“From our perspective, the value of this training lies in its practical, inclusive approach – ensuring that all learners, regardless of need or background, receive meaningful and personalised guidance that empowers them to take their next steps with clarity and purpose.”

Shelley Woodley, a teaching assistant at Fitzwaryn School, who recently started her career advisor training, said: “I am excited and feel it’s a real privilege to be taking part in the careers guidance training. I’m already learning more about careers education than I knew existed, and it’s been both enjoyable and inspiring to network with others in the field.

“This training is not only expanding my own knowledge, but it will also help us create extensive and meaningful opportunities for our pupils as they prepare for adulthood.”

Your Oxfordshire

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Now, this National Volunteers’ Week, the National Management Trainee at Oxfordshire County Council is keen to encourage others to try volunteering.

Volunteers’ Week takes place from 2 - 8 June this year, and the county council is joining thousands of charities and voluntary organisations recognising the contribution volunteers make across the UK, including Brianna.

The 24 year old’s journey began when she decided to give back to her new community. She said: “I had recently moved to Oxford from the north west and wanted to take advantage of the council’s volunteer policy and get involved in my local community, with a new challenge outside of work.”

She decided to work with the charity Jacari, which pairs individuals within Oxford with local schoolchildren from refugee, asylum seeking and migrant communities who need help with their English language skills.

“Jacari jumped out to me because of how positive and friendly they seemed, how it would fit in with my work commitments, and coming from a family of teachers I thought I would try my hand at teaching as a new challenge which was very different to the kind of work I engage in day to day.”

Brianna began work with the charity in February 2024 and has tutored two students at two local schools.

She explained: “My role is to provide one-on-one informal tutoring sessions through conversation, games, reading, writing and listening to help improve students’ academic and social English language skills. These sessions are tailored to each individual student’s needs.

“For me it’s a wonderful way to refresh and refocus midweek and be energised by young people who are excited to learn and develop. In my time so far at the council I have focused on the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers in my work, and these sessions help to put that work into a sharper personal perspective.

“My experience has been really positive – with the students, the organisation and with other volunteers. I couldn’t recommend it enough.”

Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Inequalities, said: "Voluntary work provides an excellent opportunity for people to engage with and contribute to their communities. It also allows individuals to connect with many interesting people they might not have otherwise encountered.

“Brianna deserves tremendous praise for her efforts, and I am sure that she has made a real difference to the young people she has supported.

“As a council, we take pride in supporting our employees, and we are proud to offer two days’ paid leave for colleagues who wish to volunteer within their communities.”

Volunteers’ Week is led by the UK Volunteering Forum, a partnership between Volunteer Scotland, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and Volunteer Now in Northern Ireland. Visit the Volunteers' Week website to find out more.

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