New inspections must show us the big picture

On safeguarding children, councils smart over judgments deemed superficial and unfair. So the new single inspection framework for children's social services, which replaces the "adequate" grade with "requires improvement", might do little to boost morale. But the framework promises a "comprehensive" view of care, as Ofsted's new social care chief Debbie Jones puts it, bringing together judgments for children who are at risk and looked-after with leadership and management (see p8).

Jones says the framework "captures a journey from entering to exiting the system". Much will depend on Ofsted ensuring the quality of inspectors. And when tragedy strikes, the response from Ofsted and government must be measured, not stoke a moral panic and media frenzy. We cannot eradicate the fact that children die from abuse or neglect, but we can better protect vulnerable children and young people from harm.