Data set from Children looked after in England including adoptions

CLA on 31 March with three or more placements during the year or previous 2 years, or aged under 16 on 31 March who had been looked after continuously for at least 2.5 years and who were living with the same carer for at least 2 years - LA

Latest data
Published
Last updated

Local authority level data on: 

  • children looked after on 31 March with three of more placements during the year or previous 2 years
  • children looked after aged under 16 on 31 March who had been looked after continuously for at least 2.5 years and who were living with the same carer for at least 2 years.

For some local authorities, the figures may be impacted by significant numbers of unaccompanied asylum seeking children.


Data set details

Theme
Children's social care
Publication
Children looked after in England including adoptions
Release type
Geographic levels
Local authority, National, Regional
Indicators
  • Number
  • Percentage
Filters
  • Number of placements
Time period
2019 to 2023

Data set preview

Table showing first 5 rows, from underlying data
time_periodtime_identifiergeographic_levelcountry_codecountry_nameregion_coderegion_nameold_la_codela_namenew_la_codecla_groupplacement_stabilitynumberpercentage
2023Reporting yearNationalE92000001EnglandChildren looked after continuously for at least 2.5 years at 31 March aged under 16 yearsLiving with the same carer for at least 2 years, or are placed for adoption and their adoptive placement together with their previous placement, last for at least 2 years2035069
2023Reporting yearNationalE92000001EnglandChildren looked after continuously for at least 2.5 years at 31 March aged under 16 yearsTotal children29630100
2023Reporting yearNationalE92000001EnglandCLA 2 years on 31 MarchTotal children59620100
2023Reporting yearNationalE92000001EnglandCLA 2 years on 31 MarchWith 3 or more placements during the previous 2 years1313022
2023Reporting yearNationalE92000001EnglandCLA on 31 MarchTotal children83840100

Variables in this data set

Table showing all 3 variables
Variable nameVariable description
numberNumber
percentagePercentage
placement_stabilityNumber of placements

Footnotes

  1. National and regional numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Historical data may differ from older publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the previous publication. However, users looking for a longer time series may wish to check for the equivalent table in earlier releases of this publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements. 
  2. Figures for children looked after continuously for at least 2.5 years, aged under 16, include only children living with the same carer for at least two years or if they have been placed for adoption, their adoptive placement and their previous placement combined last for at least two years. Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements. Note the methodology has changed compared to figures published in the 2020 publication, the figures now a. exclude children who started a period of care under an agreed series of short-term placements which later became continuous and b. include children in fostering placements with relative(s) or friend(s) or other foster carers who is/are also an approved adopter(s) – fostering for adoption/concurrent planning (placement codes U2 and U5) as a placement change.
  3. A child is included as having been a. in care for at least 2.5 years if their period of care start date was on or before the 30 September of the relevant year and b. with the same carer for at least 2 years if their episode start date for the relevant placement was on or before the 31 March of the relevant year.
  4. Includes children looked after on 31 March each year who also spent at least one day in care in the previous year ending 31 March

Using this data

  • Download the underlying data as a compressed ZIP file

  • View or create your own tables

    View tables that we have built for you, or create your own tables from open data using our table tool

Download this data using code

Access this data using common programming languages using the URL below.

Example code