Ofsted changed Baby P report, papers reveal

Ofsted rewrote a report after the Baby Peter tragedy, making it more critical of former children's services chief Sharon Shoesmith, documents released by the High Court show.

Inspectors from the childcare regulator were also told to delete emails relating to their review of Haringey Council in north London, the documents reveal, although this was soon retracted. Ofsted's final report on the local authority, published in 2008, led to the sacking of Ms Shoesmith, 57. Thousands of documents were made public yesterday after a request by media organisations.

The final report contains implicit criticism of Ms Shoesmith that was not in the first version, the BBC reported. One of the main findings in the published document, not in the earliest draft, reads: "There is insufficient strategic leadership and management oversight of safeguarding children."

Ofsted said it was "normal practice" for reports to be drafted, edited and finalised. Ms Shoesmith claims she was unfairly dismissed and the documents were unfairly altered.

The court is expected to rule after Easter.