There were 225,400 investigations to assess if there was a risk of severe harm to a child in England in the year to 31 March 2023, latest numbers from the Department of Education indicate.

That's the greatest number since data collection began in 2019, when there were 66 less every day, or an average of 617 per day.

With 217,800 in 2022 - 596 a day - the number is also higher than in the previous year. In the COVID-19 years of 2020–2021, the numbers decreased.

In order to ascertain whether action is required to protect a child's welfare, local authorities are obligated to conduct assessments whenever there is a reasonable suspicion that a child is suffering or is going to suffer serious harm.

Councils get a budget from central government for child social care but many have to spend more, pulling money away from other critical areas, as they have to legally deliver the service.