Dr Jean Herbison's recommendations cover the roles of social work, police, education and health services in protecting children.

They include:

• setting up a central helpline number for the Highlands to make it easier for members of the public to raise any concerns about a child's welfare

• providing training so that issues of vulnerability are identified "very early" and information shared freely between all those involved at the earliest stage

• urgently putting in place systems to ensure adequate tracking of vulnerable children

• where social work is contacted with regard to "concern about a child" the department should see the child immediately if the call seems urgent, or otherwise within 24 hours

• Northern Constabulary should urgently review a gap between policy and practice, particularly in relation to serious inquiries including missing persons, child protection and potential murder inquiries.

• police should be involved in all discussions at an early stage in relation to potential concern about a child's welfare

• immediate transfer of information between education and health if it becomes known that a child has potentially moved from the area.

Northern Constabulary's Chief Constable Ian Latimer, chairman of the Highland Child Protection Committee, said local agencies already complied with 65 of the 68 recommendations.

He said: "Three recommendations remain outstanding, including a central helpline and a co-ordinated multi-agency audit, and form part of the present child protection workplan which will be fully implemented by September of this year."

Arthur McCourt, chief executive of Highland Council, said Dr Herbison's report would be considered by the council at its next meeting on 4 May.

Home visit

He said the council had conducted its own management review covering all the contacts the authority had with Danielle and her family.

A telephone call from a family member a year before the girl's death led to checks with Danielle's nursery and health services, but none with the police. No home visit was made.

Mr McCourt said: "The council has taken measures to ensure that checks are made with police and that a home visit, which includes seeing the child, is made in every case where significant concerns are raised."

Dr Roger Gibbins, chief executive of NHS Highland, said: "Although there was nothing any of my staff could have done to prevent Danielle's tragic death, we can't be complacent and this report supports the approach we have been taking over the last few years to improve child protection."