Chairperson of the Victoria Climbie inquiry Lord Laming declared this week that the inquiry had "reached a milestone" in the work it had been charged with.
However, he said he would could not close phase one yet as late documents submitted to the inquiry "right up until 30 January" still needed to be considered and could necessitate the inquiry calling for further evidence.
He said that new grounds for criticism could emerge that have not yet been put to witnesses, so they would need to be given the chance to respond to these before they could be included in the final report.
He said that where oral submissions had raised new information - as in the case of NSPCC chief executive Mary Marsh this week - further written statements may also be sought.
Laming said he hoped that phase one of the inquiry had reassured Victoria's parents "of the serious intent of the British government" and of the commitment of all involved to learn the lessons from Victoria's tragic case.
"The very least we can do is aim to ensure that nothing like this happens again," Laming said.
