North West
Manchester, in the region with the most homes
Ofsted recorded 1,020 children’s homes in the North West at 31 March 2025, more than in any other region. Ofsted also notes that homes are not spread in line with where children come from. A Manchester project has to say who it is for, not only that the region has homes.
Manchester City Council is the planning authority inside the city. Salford, Trafford, Stockport and the other boroughs decide their own applications. “Greater Manchester” is not a single planning committee.
Fiveways is based in Birmingham. This page is about the work in Manchester, not a local branch.
Planning applications in this area are decided by Manchester City Council.
- Where there are many homes, inspection and improvement work is as common as new registration. Troubleshooting looks at the requirement that keeps returning.
- We do not publish a Manchester success rate. National grades are on the inspection page, with the Ofsted source, and they are not our outcomes.
- The company is based in Birmingham. Manchester visits are planned around the work, not around a local room.
The work that usually belongs here
Children’s homes of the subtype “children’s home”, including short-break-only homes, at 31 March 2025.
Questions that come up here
Do you have consultants based in Manchester?
No. The company is based in Birmingham and works in the service, including in Manchester, when the work needs a visit.
Does the North West’s number of homes make registration more likely?
No. Ofsted does not award registrations because a region is busy. A crowded market is a reason to be clearer about location and purpose, not a reason to expect a yes.
Nearby, and not the same
- Liverpool — Same Ofsted region. A different council.
- Leeds — Not the North East, even when the table joins them.
- Birmingham — Visits are arranged at the service.