Survey Results 2025
A Message From Our CEO
This year ’ s annual survey provides clear evidence of the progress we are making and the priorities that continue to guide us. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who contributed.
At the start of 2025, we committed to sustainable growth, consistently high quality, and improved outcomes for the people we support and educate - alongside meaningful investment in our workforce. Feedback from the people we support, students, families, partners, and professionals has been overwhelmingly positive The survey confirms that these commitments are delivering real impact.
We are proud that all of our settings continue to be rated good or outstanding, and we remain a trusted partner within our local communities. More importantly, the people we support and educate are achieving outcomes that matter - greater independence, improved health and wellbeing, and progression into employment or education. Every journey is unique, and we recognise and celebrate progress in all its forms
Our People Plan has played a central role in this progress Enhanced pay, a new Skills‑Based Pay structure in care, and a strong uplift for our education workforce are driving higher satisfaction and reinforcing our commitment to valuing our people
As we look ahead, our potential is limitless Where we excel, we will continue to raise standards. Where improvement is needed, we are focused and determined. Thank you for your trust, your honesty, and your ongoing partnership in creating something exceptional
and homes are rated Good or £2000 Shortlisted for 13 external awards, receiving 2 Highly Commended and 4 wins! Supported over different charities and raised over 10 100 people supported Reached across our care homes Opened 3 new Adult Care Homes and 1 new School Campus. 100% 157 students Reached attending our schools
Bright Futures
Our Values:
We define ourselves by our values. They influence how we treat one another, our students and people we support
With the people we provide support and education to, with their families, with our community, and with our fellow professionals Together we are one team
We have an unwavering commitment to the people we provide support and education to We offer specialist care, education and therapeutic support tailored to meet each individual’s needs.
By listening, reflecting, and learning we make changes to continuously improve what we do
We understand how difficult it can be for families to place their loved one in a new school or in the care of others With our open, calm and supportive approach we are by their side for the journey ahead.
Workforce Update
o the lives e a great
p g g -driven colleagues who bring energy, compassion and professionalism to their roles Feedback in 2025 shows strong progress, and we remain committed to continuous improvement.
Our investment in digital systems and Values Based Recruitment is improving recruitment and onboarding, helping our leaders secure the very best talent for the future We look forward to seeing the continued impact of this in 2026 and beyond.
In 2026, we will further develop our workforce through bespoke, role-specific training and expanded learning opportunities delivered via our new Learning Management System We will strengthen communication to ensure colleagues feel increasingly informed, engaged and connected to our shared direction.
What’s next
Bright Behaviours Commitment
We know that the way we act and interact is fundamental to the experience of the people we support and educate, and the outcomes that they achieve In 2026 all colleagues will sign up to our 7 Bright Behaviours commitments and pledge to embed these in everything they do
Wellbeing and Recognition
With wellbeing and recognition at the heart of our culture, our 2026 wellbeing calendar includes step challenges, a healthy eating focus, walk-and-talk events, and more; all designed to connect with and support our teams.
Cathy Dawson People Director
Introducing Bright Day Out
Our Bright Day Out initiative invites our Business Support colleagues to spend one day a year in our care or education settings, gaining real insight into the meaningful impact they have every day.
Our Culture of Listening
We will continue to listen to our people and seek their feedback. Gathering even more insight and most importantly, making improvements through local and companywide action plans. Continuing with regular surveys, listening groups and much more
What Our Workforce Say
Throughout 2025, we asked our workforce for their feedback through regular surveys and focus groups
We had an overall engagement score of 7% higher than the sector benchmark This employees feel about Bright Futures. 7
Our Rewards and Recognition has seen an since our previous survey, with p seeing the biggest positive jump.
+13% of our workforce would recommen Futures as a great place to work, which is 1 sector benchmark. 77%
Bright Futures is a great place to work, with access to some good training.
As a new employee, I found the induction to be really informative and there are opportunities to grow at every level. I feel very well supported.
7 Are PROUD to work for Bright Futures
Our Bright Behaviours Commitment
We put the people we support and educate first
We use their preferred method of communication
We are warm and respectful
We have unconditional positive regard
We teach and empower
We advocate
We speak up against poor practice
External Awards
We’re excited to share some amazing achieveme team In 2025, we were finalists in 13 external aw
s for Abov am, National High School Pupil of the Year and Headteacher of the Year, as well as 2 Highly Commended Awards for Communications Guru and Regional Housing with Care
Operations Update
Our annual survey continues to provide invaluable insight, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from families, professionals and the people we support and educate. This feedback reflects the meaningful difference we make, with people telling us they feel happy, safe and supported, and able to spend their time doing things they enjoy and have chosen for themselves. Central to this is our strong focus on outcomes, ensuring progress is tracked, achievements are celebrated and improvements in health, wellbeing and quality of life are clearly evidenced.
Our Homes
Supporting people through some of life’s most significant milestones remains our priority, including moving home, starting or leaving education, and entering adulthood. Our approach focuses on careful planning, consistent relationships, and clearly defined personal goals, enabling people to navigate change with confidence.
We remain committed to strengthening our teams and continuously improving the quality of care we deliver into 2026 As well as creating more new homes in the North West and beyond.
Our Schools
2025 saw continued growth in response to rising demand for our specialist provision. So we were proud to open our new Elm Fields campus at Ash Meadow School, St Helens. Our schools provide structured, aspirational environments that build confidence, independence and positive learning behaviours, with this work recognised through local awards and accreditations.
Strong partnerships with families, active student voice and community engagement remain central as we look ahead to opening a new school in Salford in 2026.
Feedback From Our Students
We know that everyone communicates in their own way, so we used a range of tools and approaches to capture feedback from our students in ways that work best for them. We are committed to truly listening, learning, and acting on what matters most to them.
Here’s what they had to say
Survey responses split by School
Said they are HAPPY at school. 86% Said they LIKE their Education Team 95% Said they ENJOY going to school 88%
Said they LIKE their meals. 86% Said they FEEL listened to at school 87%
Said they are HAPPY with the resources at school 92%
School Council Update
Willow Tree Park
Oliver, Student Councillor Lead
I enjoyed doing my Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award. The country music festival was a highlight in 2025 We had lots of theme days - I loved Pride Day because we all wore rainbow. We went to London to see the Houses of Parliament We saw the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.
Sharyn, Student Councillor Lead
We looked at outdoor resources to make the garden more interactive, conducting an outdoor resources audit and identifying equipment needing replacing.
We sponsored an animal from Walton Gardens We made an outside sculpture with Eco Club with help from an artist. We sold lots of things to raise money for charity, like the bake sale for Macmillan. And finally, took part in a Harvest food bank drive
Summer, Student Councillor Lead
We went to Liverpool markets for Christmas to see how they look before we did our own. We went to London to visit Big Ben and the palace. We also got to ride the London Eye I was a buddy for a younger student, and other school councillors were buddies too
Ash Meadow
Meaghan, Violet, Harrison, Emmanuel, Dylan, Max, Chaniel and Bobby Student Council Leads
We have been looking at the equipment within our school that we might be able to develop
We created Community Christmas Hampers to support our local community
Students lead a take-over week where they were in charge of activity planning.
We also had activities for Mental Health Week, and started to develop our school library resources, and what makes us feel safe in school.
Feedback on Our Care from the People we Support
The voices of the people we support are at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we recently asked them to share thoughts and experiences about their care.
We know that everyone communicates in their own way, so we used a range of tools and approaches to capture their feedback in ways that work best for them. This is how we get the invaluable direction on what we do well, and what we need to improve
Here’s what they had to say…
I am very happy and looking forward to Christmas.
Dan Amelia
I love my home and the team
Said they LIKE their home. 98%
Said they are HAPPY in their home 98%
Said they LIKE their Care Team. 98% S lifestyles 98%
Said they SEE people who are important to them, such as family or friends 100%
Said they LIKE the food that they eat 98%
What Parents and Families Say:
We understand how difficult it can be for families to place their loved ones in a new school or in the care of others That’s why the ongoing feedback from families is so important to us It helps us shape the future of our work, ensuring we continue to meet the evolving needs of those we support
The split of feedback across our Schools and Care Homes.
Feel their family member is HAPPY at Bright Futures 92%
97%
CONFIDENT to raise a concern and would be confident that Bright Futures would respond effectively
Feel their family member is INVOLVED and LISTENED TO. 97%
Feel Bright Futures supports MEANINGFUL activities 100%
Feel Bright Futures provides GREAT quality Care and Education 98%
Bright Futures has had a significant impact on my child’s growth and positively supported me as a parent.
They put my mind at ease and provide me with detailed information, always keeping me in the loop!
Feel Bright Futures support people to achieve POSITIVE outcomes 100%
Where applicable, feel their family members move to Bright Futures was:
Quotes from our parents and families:
My daughter has been at Bright Futures for care and education and has come on leaps and bounds. Just amazing, we couldn’t be a family unit without their help.
A fantastic school for my boy who is very excited every day to go in.
My Son is improving in all aspects of education and mental wellbeing. Any concerns are handled with confidence, confidentiality, care and compassion, beyond what I would have expected
The whole team at Willow Tree Park are an absolute asset to the business/school. The kindest, most caring and happy environment is created everyday for our children
I am completely reassured by the Bright Futures team at College and in my son ’ s home. He is safe, settled and supported and I have the upmost confidence in both teams. You all perform to the highest professional and personal standards throughout, whether that is individually or coming together as a team, you have all have a significant impact on my son ’ s growth, as well as positively supporting me as his parent.
My child is very happy and settled into school He has thrived since beginning with Bright Futures. The team are vey caring and approachable.
Bright Futures as an organisation are exemplary.
What Our Stakeholders Say:
Working with partners in the wider system is vital to our care and education Our social workers, commissioners and local authority contacts play a vital role in shaping the support we provide By listening to their feedback, we gain insight into what matters most - helping us refine our services, strengthen our partnerships, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we support.
Here’s what they had to say
Feel Bright Futures provides a SAFE and NURTURING environment 100%
Feel the support Bright Futures provides has a POSITIVE IMPACT 100%
The split of services by stakeholder who completed our survey
100%
Feel Bright Futures colleagues are SKILLED and COMPETENT 80%
sely with mprove the outcomes for this particular individual
Feel Bright Futures are informative and EFFECTIVE at multiagency working. 80%
Feel Bright Futures are planned & supported each young person ’ s MOVE to their new home/school EFFECTIVELY. 100%
Bright Futures is a good provider offering high quality care.
Social Worker
Bright Futures has gone above and beyond for the young person placed. The communication with professionals and parents is excellent
Feel that Bright Futures is open, HONEST, and APPROACHABLE. 100%
100%
Feel that Bright Futures delivers a FLEXIBLE, person-centred approach to Care and Education.
Social Worker
Social Worker
