In response to the National Audit Office report on Children in Need of Help or Protection, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Education Angela Rayner MP said:

“These findings are extremely worrying and will cause great concern amongst everyone involved in child protection.

"Some of the figures are startling and shocking - including the 124 percent increase in serious cases where a child may be suffering significant harm.

"The report shows that since 2010 little progress has been made in making the most vulnerable children safe and protected. This is simply not good enough and is wholly unacceptable.

"The Government must now bring forward comprehensive plans to address the systemic failures highlighted by the report to ensure equal treatment right across the country, as well as a thorough examination of why we are still failing to properly protect children at risk.”