DfE’s most recent statistics on looked-after children shows a 42 per cent increase in the number of unaccompanied children in the care of English local authorities since 2019 and 29 per cent in the 12 months to 31 March.
There are currently 7,290 unaccompanied children in the care system – the highest number since current records began in 2004.
Some 96 per cent of unaccompanied children in the system are male and just 14 per cent are under the age of 16, new figures show.
For the first time, DfE has published details on the placements of unaccompanied children.
This reveals that the number of young people placed in semi-independent settings has been increasing whilst those placed in foster placements and living independently have been decreasing.
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