A government direction for Norfolk County Council to improve its children's services may be more positive than previously expected, councillors heard yesterday.
Children's minister Edward Timpson told the council in August he was minded to issue the statutory direction following a series of damning Ofsted reports. The council received the draft wording on Tuesday, and has two weeks to comment.
Interim director of children's services Sheila Lock told yesterday's overview panel it was about the council's capacity to continue improvement, rather than the steps it should take to improve, as once anticipated.
Cabinet member James Joyce said: 'They do seem to be listening to the approach we are taking, and saying 'Well, it's not wrong'. They are not saying they 100% agree, but there's a lot of understanding and they want to see us work it out.'
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