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Number of children in care drops for first time in 16 years

2 mins read Social Care
The number of children in the care of local authorities has declined for the first time in 16 years, government figures show.
The consortium aims to provide greater support for foster carers. Picture: Adobe Stock
The majority of children in care are in foster care, figures show - Adobe Stock

The Department for Education statistics reveal a marginal decline of 130 children in care on 31 March compared with the same time last year. On 31 March this year 83,630 children were in care.

This marks the first year-on-year decline since 2008 when figures dropped to 60,920 from 59,960 in 2007. They then increased to 60,920 in 2009.

The number of children who ceased to be looked after between March 2023 and this year was 33,620 – a 6% increase on the previous year’s figures. Just 2,980 of these children were adopted.

According to DfE, the changes can “be explained by the large increase in unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in recent years”. The most recent figures show that the number of asylum-seeking children in the care of local authorities in 2024 was 7,380 – a 0.5% decline on figures seen in 2023.

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