head-teacher reported that the children's condition was deteriorating and the social work assistant also reported that the children were not fed after 4 or 4.30 p.m. In September 1990, A and B were both reported to have bruising on their faces and the police reported to social services that "the conditions of the house were appalling and not fit for [the] children to live in." Moreover, in October of that year, the social work once again expressed her concern for the children, citing the mother's lack of interest and the fact that the children were defecating in their bedroom and smearing excrement on their windows. The head-teacher also reported that the children had described blocks of wood being placed against their bedroom doors.
These reports continued through January 1991. Moreover, the headmistress reported that Z and A were demonstrating behavior that suggested psychological disturbance and placed them at odds with her classmates. Nevertheless, the social service authorities found insufficie
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