Although they have strong views on how and why fostering could be improved, children in care are remarkably positive about fostering and their sense of wellbeing is "surprisingly high", according to Narey and Owers.
"I am quite clear that, although many of these schools have improved and children are now much safer, the situation remains fragile," Wilshaw said.
"The information also shows that attainment has improved, more children are leaving school for positive destinations and that exclusions are down.
Their preferred parenting practices to support improved child diets were role-modelling; shaping home environments, involving children in decisions about meals, and providing positive feedback.
When accessibility to schools improved, children and adults were found to pay more visits to and spent more times in schools yet without generating additional total school travel.
Des Mannion said: "If families cannot or will not improve, children must be protected and action be taken at the earliest opportunity.
But as diagnostic services improve, more children are being diagnosed as autistic – and so the number of families not receiving the support they need is rising.
Research indicates that test scores in core subjects improve when children are exposed to rigorous offerings in foreign language, music, art and other areas.
A blue-ribbon commission set up by the county Board of Supervisors recommended "a fundamental transformation of the current child protection system". The board responded by setting up a new agency, the Office of Child Protection, which is charged with improving how children are treated.
"By improving nutrition, children are more likely to survive, and achieving the Millennium Development Goal on reducing child mortality comes within reach, as is already the case in Zimbabwe".
