CLA on 31 March by characteristics - NATIONAL
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Children looked after on 31 March each year, by gender, age group (on 31 March), primary need, ethnicity, legal status, motherhood status and placement type (on 31 March). Data formerly in table A1 and A2. Note: The number of placements during the year can now be found in the file 'CLA on 31 March by placement stability - NATIONAL'.
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Data set details
- Theme
- Children's social care
- Publication
- Children looked after in England including adoptions
- Release
- Reporting year 2024
- Release type
- Geographic levels
- National
- Indicators
- Number
- Percentage
- Filters
- Characteristic
- Time period
- 2020 to 2024
Data set preview
| time_period | time_identifier | geographic_level | country_code | country_name | cla_group | characteristic | number | percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Reporting year | National | E92000001 | England | Age group | 1 to 4 years | 10820 | 13 |
| 2024 | Reporting year | National | E92000001 | England | Age group | 10 to 15 years | 31440 | 38 |
| 2024 | Reporting year | National | E92000001 | England | Age group | 16 years and over | 22620 | 27 |
| 2024 | Reporting year | National | E92000001 | England | Age group | 5 to 9 years | 15020 | 18 |
| 2024 | Reporting year | National | E92000001 | England | Age group | Total children | 83630 | 100 |
Variables in this data set
| Variable name | Variable description |
|---|---|
| characteristic | Characteristic |
| number | Number |
| percentage | Percentage |
Footnotes
- Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . 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.
- FFA relates to Fostering for Adoption. Foster placements 'not FFA or concurrent planning' include children in long term foster placements.
- Category of need is the main category of the eight “need codes” at the time the child started to be looked after.
- 'Youth Justice legal statuses' refers to children: remanded to LA accommodation or youth detention accommodation under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012; placed in LA accommodation under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984; or, sentenced to a youth rehabilitation order with residence or intensive fostering requirement under the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (as amended).
- In 2024 there were 13 secure units in England, therefore most placements will inevitably be outside the council boundary.
- Percentages for all mothers aged 12 or over looked after at 31 March are the number of looked after mothers aged 12 and over as a percentage of all looked after females aged 12 and over.
- The category 'Independent and semi-independent living arrangements/ supported accommodation' reports data for young people in placements in former semi-independent living arrangements and living independently up to and including 2023. From 2024 all placements are supported accommodation (registered with Ofsted). From 28 October 2023 it became illegal for young people to be placed in former semi independent and independent living placements. Supported accommodation providers were required to submit a completed application to Ofsted by 28 October 2023. In 2024, young people who were placed in former semi independent and independent living placements with providers who had not submitted a completed application by the deadline are reported within the 'Other' category.
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