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1. Step 1

   • Publication: Children looked after in England including adoptions

2. Step 2

   • Data set: National - Children who ceased to be looked after during the year ending 31 March by characteristics

3. Step 3

   • National:
     • England

4. Step 4

   • Time period: 2018 to 2020

5. Step 5

   • Indicators:
     • Number
     • Percent
   • Characteristic:
     • Total
     • 1 to 4 years
     • 10 to 15 years
     • 16 years
     • 17 years

6. Step 6 Explore data

   This data is not from the latest release

   View latest data: Reporting year 2023

   'National - Children who ceased to be looked after during the year ending 31 March by characteristics' for 1 to 4 years, 10 to 15 years, 16 years, 17 years, 5 to 9 years and 41 other filters in England between 2018 and 2020

   		Number			Percent
   		2018	2019	2020	2018	2019	2020
   Age on ceasing	Total	30,050	29,570	29,590	100%	100%	100%
   	Under 1 year	2,270	2,240	2,140	8%	8%	7%
   	1 to 4 years	6,480	6,530	6,510	22%	22%	22%
   	5 to 9 years	4,010	3,870	3,430	13%	13%	12%
   	10 to 15 years	4,720	4,370	4,370	16%	15%	15%
   	16 years	1,580	1,430	1,330	5%	5%	5%
   	17 years	1,740	1,530	1,490	6%	5%	5%
   	Ceased on 18th birthday	9,190	9,570	10,290	31%	32%	35%
   	Ceased when older than 18th birthday	60	40	40	~	~	~
   Category of need	Total	30,050	29,570	29,590	100%	100%	100%
   	N1. Abuse or neglect	16,890	17,070	17,100	56%	58%	58%
   	N2. Child’s disability	770	670	720	3%	2%	2%
   	N3. Parental illness or disability	940	930	820	3%	3%	3%
   	N4. Family in acute stress	2,540	2,380	2,410	8%	8%	8%
   	N5. Family dysfunction	4,340	4,110	3,940	14%	14%	13%
   	N6. Socially unacceptable behaviour	940	910	840	3%	3%	3%
   	N7. Low income	70	50	60	~	~	~
   	N8. Absent parenting	3,560	3,460	3,710	12%	12%	13%
   Gender	Total	30,050	29,570	29,590	100%	100%	100%
   	Male	17,000	16,730	16,980	57%	57%	57%
   	Female	13,050	12,840	12,620	43%	43%	43%
   Legal status	Total	30,050	29,570	29,590	100%	100%	100%
   	Care order	10,780	12,270	12,670	36%	42%	43%
   	Freed for adoption	c	0	0	c	0%	0%
   	Placement order granted	3,760	3,490	3,340	13%	12%	11%
   	Voluntary agreements under S20 CA 1989	13,840	12,200	12,140	46%	41%	41%
   	Detained for child protection	880	780	720	3%	3%	2%
   	Youth justice legal statuses	790	830	710	3%	3%	2%
   Reason episode ceased	Total	30,050	29,570	29,590	100%	100%	100%
   	Adopted - application unopposed	2,010	1,930	1,900	7%	7%	6%
   	Adopted - consent dispensed with	1,840	1,660	1,550	6%	6%	5%
   	Died	50	40	50	~	~	~
   	Care taken by another LA	560	570	340	2%	2%	1%
   	Returned home to live with parents or other person with parental responsibility which was part of the care planning process	6,270	5,770	5,250	21%	20%	18%
   	Returned home to live with parents or other person with parental responsibility which was not part of the care planning process	1,400	1,300	1,150	5%	4%	4%
   	Left care to live with parents, relatives or other person with no parental responsibility	1,540	1,670	2,040	5%	6%	7%
   	Residence order or child arrangement order granted	1,180	1,130	1,160	4%	4%	4%
   	Special guardianship order made to former foster carers	1,870	z	z	6%	z	z
   	Special guardianship order made to carers other than former foster carers	1,600	z	z	5%	z	z
   	Special guardianship order made to former foster carer(s), who was/are a relative(s) or friend(s)	z	2,260	2,160	z	8%	7%
   	Special guardianship order made to former foster carer(s), other than relative(s) or friend(s)	z	360	330	z	1%	1%
   	Special guardianship order made to carer(s), other than former foster carer(s), who was/are a relative(s) or friend(s)	z	1,200	1,120	z	4%	4%
   	Special guardianship order made to carer(s), other than former foster carer(s), other than relative(s) or friend(s)	z	50	90	z	~	~
   	Moved into independent living (with supportive accommodation)	3,790	4,000	4,220	13%	14%	14%
   	Moved into independent living (with no formalised support)	690	680	840	2%	2%	3%
   	Transferred to residential care funded by adult social services	600	560	580	2%	2%	2%
   	Sentenced to custody	440	430	390	1%	1%	1%
   	Accommodation on remand ended	160	190	190	1%	1%	1%
   	Age assessment determined child aged 18 or over	270	240	260	1%	1%	1%
   	Child moved abroad	90	80	90	~	~	~
   	Care ceased for any other reason	5,700	5,440	5,910	19%	18%	20%

   Footnotes

   1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages and averages rounded to the nearest whole number. See the methodology document for further information. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements. Historical data may differ from older publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the previous publication.
   2. Category of need is the main category of the eight “need codes” at the time the child started to be looked after.

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   Related information

   • Release type:
   • Publication: Children looked after in England including adoptions, Reporting year 2023

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