Bad Data Blamed for Low Children Services Ranking
Hounslow says information submitted to commissioner was wrong
Cllr Madeeha Asim said it ‘was important to correct the record’ but didn't call for the Children's Lottery report to be amended
October 29, 2026
Hounslow Council is claiming that incorrect information it supplied to the Children’s Commissioner led to the borough being ranked near the bottom of a national report on children’s services.
The ‘Childhood Lottery’ report, published on 19 October, placed Hounslow 147th out of 148 upper-tier local authorities. The Children’s Commissioner’s report found Hounslow to be the second hardest place in England for a child to grow up, behind Middlesbrough. It highlighted low vaccination rates, limited access to mental health and bereavement services, and high child mortality compared with national averages. The borough also reported no youth hubs or targeted support groups for vulnerable children.
However, the council says a subsequent data validation exercise found that twelve services for children and young people had been omitted from its submission, significantly affecting its score. With the missing data included, officials say Hounslow would have ranked 84th.
Councillor Madeeha Asim, Cabinet Member for Children and Young Futures, said the council accepts responsibility for the error and is investigating how it occurred. “We are not expecting the Children’s Commissioner to change the report,” she said, “but we felt it was important to correct the record and reassure people who were understandably concerned by the original findings.”
The council’s review found that services such as bereavement support, targeted youth groups for children with special educational needs, and specialist help for looked-after children were all in place when the Commissioner’s data was collected in 2025 but were not recorded. Each measure carried a value of ten points, meaning Hounslow lost 120 points in total. The Councillor Asim was not overseeing the department at the time the alleged errors were made.
Cllr Asim said the borough remains committed to improving outcomes for young people, citing initiatives including the Playground Pledge, Family Hubs, and the Young People’s Skills and Employment Guarantee. “Every child and young person deserves an opportunity to thrive,” she said. “We are investing in play spaces, libraries, family support and employment pathways to build a fairer future.”
Conservative councillors have dismissed the council’s explanation as inadequate. Jack Emsley, speaking for the Conservative group, called the statement “a desperate attempt to excuse the damning findings,” arguing that an internal audit without independent oversight “is both insulting and embarrassing.”
Cllr Jo Biddolph added that the council’s response had been “defensive rather than proactive,” saying its focus should be on reviewing and improving children’s services rather than defending its position. She said the council’s position justified her earlier call for the report to be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Despite the shortcomings highlighted in the report, Hounslow performs strongly in education, ranking 26th nationally for GCSE results and reporting one of the lowest rates of young people not in education, employment or training.
The council says it will continue working with partners to address inequalities and improve services for children and families across the borough.
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