The idea of a system of sector-led improvement for children's services is not an altogether new one, and in fact it has been tried in different guises over the years, such as through the since de-funded Children's Improvement Board.

But recently we seem to have reached a new understanding – including not just the usual sector bodies, but the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofsted too – that for children's services this is a genuine imperative rather than just a ‘nice to do'.