But despite the increase in the looked-after children population, the adoption rate fell by five per cent between March 2010 and March 2011 to 3,050 adoptions, and by eight per cent since 2007.
Foster placements, by contrast, rose 3.6 per cent in the 12 months to March 2011 to reach 48,530, which is a 15.5 per cent rise since 2007.
Adoption delays continue to be a problem. The average length of time to adopt a child in care between 2010 and 2011 was two years and seven months, just a month shorter than the 2007 average. However, the proportion who have to wait more than three years has fallen from 29 to 26 per cent since 2007.
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