Recommendation 1

Evidence given to the Committee during our inquiry indicates that many of the problems highlighted by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care in 2022 persist, and in a significant number of cases have worsened since the Review. Increases in need coupled with stretched budgets and a lack of serious attention to reform have resulted in a system characterised by spiralling costs to local authorities and poor experiences and outcomes for children. The “once in a generation” opportunity provided by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care has not been realised, with the Department for Education focusing on small-scale pilot projects in specific areas rather than comprehensive reform. (Conclusion, Paragraph 8)