Given the growing concern among paediatricians that the Children Act 1989 is failing severely abused and neglected children,1 the publication of this book is timely and welcome. It is one of a series of 20 publications, “Studies in Evaluating the Children Act 1989”, produced by the Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institution of Education, University of London. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative research data, the book looks at three …