Autistic children have difficulty relating to people. But put them in a field and give them some space and they’ll flourish, says Clare Hargreaves, who takes a look at an unusual rural experiment in Oxfordshire

Steven and Jason Barker, who showed no mercy to Baby P, even attacked their own frail grandmother, it can be revealed today.

Peter Connelly’s horrific death was a “wake-up call” for people to raise concerns about children they feared were being abused, campaigners said.

The first local authorities to be scrutinised under Ofsted’s new announced inspections regime have been rated adequate or above for their work on safeguarding and looked-after children.

A carer at a former children’s home in Jersey was a “persistent sexual bully” who repeatedly abused children in his care, a court has heard.

Hanworth councillor Alan Browne has died suddenly while visiting family in Canada. Cllr Browne was borough mayor from 2004 to 2005 and chaired the adult social care and housing overview and scrutiny panel.