In 2020/21, a total of 44,590 17- to 21-year-olds left a care placement according to Department for Education figures. These children were looked after for at least 13 weeks after their 14th birthday, including some time after their 16th birthday. Nearly a quarter were aged 21 and 58 per cent were male. Since 2018, the numbers leaving care have risen by roughly 2,000 a year.
Local authorities are expected to stay in touch with care leavers and provide statutory support to help them transition to living independently.
The proportion of care leavers whom the local authority is in touch with varies by age and is increasing across all ages except 17-year-olds.
Younger care leavers are less likely to be in touch with the local authority and so less information is known about their activity and accommodation.
In 2020/21, 91 per cent of 19- to 21-year-olds were in touch with their council (see graphics).
A significant proportion of all care leavers are unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), many who came to the UK to flee conflict in the Middle East in the previous decade. This ranges from one in 20 aged 17 to roughly one in four for older age groups.
Most 18-year-old care leavers live in semi-independent transitional accommodation and remain in education. By the ages of 19-21, a third live independently and half are in education, employment or training.
In 2020/21, 60 per cent of 18-year-olds remained with their foster carer three months after their birthday, and 30 per cent of 19- and 20-year-olds were living in “Staying Put” arrangements.
Click below to read more in CYP Now's Leaving Care Special Report
Practice examples
Research evidence
