Council leaders have welcomed the launch of an independent review into children's social care.

The review aims to raise outcomes for vulnerable children and radically reform the system.

It is being held amid increasing numbers of looked after children and inconsistencies in children's social care practice.

The review will be led by Josh MacAlister, a former teacher and founder of the social work charity Frontline.

Education secretary, Gavin Williamson, said: ‘We have known for some time that despite the best efforts of hardworking and dedicated social workers, the children's social care system is not delivering a better quality of life and improved outcomes for those it is designed to help.

'This review will be bold, wide-ranging and will not shy away from exposing problems where they exist.

'Under Josh MacAlister's leadership, it will benefit from his understanding of the challenges facing the system and his experience of improving outcomes for children and young people.'

Chair of the Local Government Association's children and young people board, Cllr Judith Blake, said: ‘ Demand for support has increased dramatically over the last decade, and it is important that we understand why this is and whether services are adequately resourced to give children the right help at the right time.'