Cases involving a baby, a three-year-old and two other children have been investigated by the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Board, it was revealed today.

Such reviews are triggered when children die or are seriously injured and abuse or neglect is thought to be involved.

David Ashcroft, independent chair of the board, revealed the pending publications of the reviews to members of Norfolk County Council's children's services committee today.

He said: 'We have a number of serious case reviews in the pipeline, which will be published in due course and I felt it was important that members are aware.

'We have a case of neglect and abuse of two young children between 2011 and 2014, which is due next month.

'One review is about injuries to a baby in 2015, which will be published in January.

'And in the same month, we will have case S, which involves injuries to a three-year-old, which took place last year.'

And Mr Ashcroft said there were a further six cases under review.

He said: 'We are looking at complex and difficult cases, which in some cases, involve large sibling groups.'

Mr Ashcroft said the findings of the reviews would enable lessons to be learned.

He said: 'There will be lessons for all partners - GPS, schools, probation officers, police and for social care.'

Mr Ashcroft added there was 'clear and demonstrable evidence' that schemes such as the Signs of Safety programme - which involves closer working with families - as improving how services respond to cases.

And he said, while the county might carry out more reviews than some areas, it was important to investigate them.

Children's services director Michael Rosen pointed out there had been a 'long time' when the county had not carried out such reviews and said it was 'really important' that it did.

Norfolk County Council's children's services department has twice been rated as inadequate by Ofsted inspectors and a letter, following a recent return by inspectors, is due to be published tomorrow.

While the report is embargoed, it is understood to acknowledge improvement in addressing inadequacies and to say child protection is 'robust'.

But it is also understood to criticise the rate of change and strategic management at County Hall, to highlight inconsistencies over good practice and to raise concern over the quality of information being used.