Last December, the Berkshire town of Reading became the latest authority to transfer the running of its children's services from the council to an independent organisation.
The move, backed by a £2.9m government grant, was in response to slow progress by the council in tackling child protection failings that led to children's services being rated "inadequate" in August 2016.
The town has a growing population of more than 300,000, of which 22 per cent are aged under 18. The proportion of children eligible for free school meals is just below national averages at primary and secondary levels. However, nearly one in five children live in poverty.
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