England is to have a watchdog to safeguard children's rights, under new plans published by the government on Monday.

Provision for a children's commissioner has been included in a green paper released by ministers.

The long-awaited document is the government's response to the recommendations made by the inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie.

The move puts England on the same footing as Scotland and Wales which both have "children's champions" to protect the rights of under-18s.

"In the past there has been a piecemeal approach to reform that has papered over the cracks but left children at risk. The tragic death of Victoria Climbie made us realise that we simply can't go on like this anymore," said education secretary Charles Clarke.

"This green paper sets out our plans to reform children's services in response to Lord Laming's Inquiry report into the death of Victoria Climbie. It establishes a clear framework of accountability with services for children and young people integrated under new directors of children's services.

"We know that real service improvement is only attainable through involving children and young people and will appoint a new children's commissioner to champion their views.

"The green paper is titled 'Every child matters'. This is no hollow slogan. It is a commitment that is driving all my work and that of all of us involved in working with and for children."

The launch of the paper had been set for the beginning of the summer but was delayed following a row over the appointment of Margaret Hodge as children's minister.

Hodge was accused of presiding over a childcare scandal while leader of Islington council in the 1980s.

Speaking on Monday, the minister added her support to the proposals contained in the document.

"Child protection cannot be separated from policies to improve children's lives more widely. We want to reform children's services to best protect children from risk of harm," she said.

"At the same time, we want to shift the balance to prevention by providing greater support to all families. Children's trusts will bring together children's professionals to ensure no child falls through the net.

"Professionals will be able to share information and respond quicker to warning signs. We want to see children's trusts across most of the country by 2006.

"We want to give parents and families greater support. Integrated teams of professionals working in and around children's centres and schools will bring services more directly to families. They will be able to intervene and provide support before families reach crisis point."

Shadow education secretary Damian Green gave the announcement only a cautious welcome.

"Today's green paper comes after some of the most horrible incidents of child abuse that anyone of us can remember," he said.

"That is why the two month delay in publishing the green paper apparently to protect Margaret Hodge, the new minister for children, is so damaging.

"We hope that the green paper will prove an effective step forward to protect our most vulnerable children but all the welcome intentions will come to nothing if we do not have enough well trained social workers in the field and if we do not establish clear lines of accountability so that every local authority knows where the buck stops."

Central to the government's plans is the idea of making schools the centre of services for children and increasing co-operation between official bodies.

Breakdowns in communication between the police, social services and healthcare workers was a key criticism of Lord Laming's inquiry into seven-year-old Victoria Climbie's murder.

Campaigners have been calling for a children's commissioner to be appointed and the announcement received a warm welcome.

"He or she should be able to investigate individual cases in exceptional circumstances and have a clear duty to actively involve children and young people," said Liz Atkins of the NSPCC.