Commenting as the House of Lords Public Services Committee publish a report on the role of public services in addressing childhood vulnerability, James Bowen, director of policy for school leaders' union NAHT, said:

"This is an incredibly important report and sadly its findings match what school leaders are telling us about the lack of available services for vulnerable children and young people.  These are the very children that need support the most and it is frankly scandalous that cuts to services have had a negative impact on their life chances.

"There is widespread agreement that early intervention is the best way to support vulnerable children yet a lack of capacity in the system means that all too often that support is not available. We agree that there should be a far more ambitious commitment to the family hubs programme. We simply have to get this right for vulnerable young people."