TODAY'S report into the death of 19-month-old Joshua Massey-Hodgkinson makes a series of recommendations designed to make sure a similar tragedy never occurs.

The independent review, carried out by the Lancashire Area Child Protection Committee, has found that the toddler's death was not predictable, but preventable, and outlines steps to ensure a repeat never occurs.

Joshua died at the home of Sabden childminder Wendy Barlow on April 2004. A self-confessed binge drinker, she had become "befuddled" on wine before taking 19-month-old Joshua into the bath with her.

Joshua slipped and banged his head. A court heard in March how Barlow frantically tried to pull Joshua out but he slipped back in several times.

Barlow was later jailed for three years after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

The main recommendation from the report is for tighter registration procedures for childminders - and recognises that were such procedures in place, Barlow's drinking would have come under more scrutiny.

The call for tighter regulations was one prong of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph-backed Justice for Joshua campaign, which also demanded better training, easier access to information on childminders and better understanding of the system among parents.

Joshua's family have today welcomed the improved regulations for childminding, hailing the announcement a massive step forward for the campaign.

And some new procedures will be in place within weeks, although a commitment to increased training for childminders still appears some way off.

As well as calling for tighter registration procedures, the review makes nine other recommendations, including better communication between agencies which give references for would-be childminders. Worryingly, poor communication was a major thread into the Lord Laming inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie more than two years ago.

Today's report marks a huge step forward for the Justice for Joshua campaign. But the review also shows there remains work to do in child protection.