It has been a difficult few years for children's services in Norfolk. The department was rated "inadequate" by Ofsted in 2015 and again in 2017, and has had four directors of children's services (DCSs) over the past four years.
In addition, Norfolk was identified in a parliamentary report as being one of the worst areas in the country for social mobility, with young children having poor attainment.
Last autumn, the council also announced plans to close 38 of its 53 children's centres, causing anger among local parents and early years providers.
Despite the challenges, the council's DCS Sara Tough - appointed in October 2017 - is optimistic the corner has been turned. In January 2018, Ofsted rated children's services as "requires improvement" overall, praising senior leaders for "working purposefully to tackle critical weaknesses".
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