The Children Act 1989 was a watershed moment in legislation to safeguard the rights and welfare of children.
Aimed at making the law less confusing and easier to apply, it was hailed by the then Lord Chancellor as "the most comprehensive and far-reaching reform of child law which has come before parliament in living memory".
The act placed a range of new duties on local authorities and the courts - much of which still applies today - including charging councils with providing services for all "children in need".
From the outset there were concerns about funding especially when it came to prevention and wider support for families - services that have been particularly hard-hit by recent cuts.
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