Number and rate of children in need
In 2021 (as at 31 March), the number of children in need decreased slightly and is at its lowest level since 2013.
The associated rate (per 10,000 children) has fallen for the third consecutive year and is now at its lowest level in the series.
Number and rate (per 10,000 children) of children in need at 31 March, 2013 to 2021, England
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | 378,030 | 395,480 | 390,130 | 393,910 | 389,040 | 404,710 | 399,510 | 389,260 | 388,490 |
| Annual change | 17,450 | -5,350 | 3,780 | -4,870 | 15,670 | -5,200 | -10,250 | -770 | |
| Annual % change | 4.6% | -1.4% | 1.0% | -1.2% | 4.0% | -1.3% | -2.6% | -0.2% | |
| Rate | 330.9 | 343.7 | 336.6 | 337.3 | 330.1 | 341.0 | 334.2 | 323.7 | 321.2 |
| Annual change | 12.8 | -7.1 | 0.7 | -7.2 | 10.9 | -6.8 | -10.5 | -2.5 |
Source: Children in Need census
Footnotes
- Rates per 10,000 of the population of children aged under 18 years are calculated using Office for National Statistics (ONS) mid-year population estimates for children aged 0 to 17 years in England.
Episodes of need
A child begins an episode of need when they are referred to children’s social care services. Each child in need can have more than one episode during the year and on average has two episodes a year.
In (the year ending 31 March) 2021, both the number of episodes starting and episodes ending fell considerably and are at their lowest levels in the series. A larger fall in episodes ending has led to a slight fall in the number of children in need as at 31 March 2021.
Duration of episodes
Almost half of all episodes of need ending in 2021 lasted 3 months or less, whereas just under 1 in 10 lasted for more than two years; this is similar to previous years.
Children in need by characteristics
Gender
In 2021 (as at 31 March), males continued to be slightly over-represented in the children in need population; 54% were male, compared to 51% of the overall population aged 0 to 17 (as shown in latest ONS mid-year population estimates (opens in a new tab)).
Ethnicity
In 2021, 7 in 10 children in need were white and 3 in 10 were from all other ethnic groups combined.
The proportion of children in need from all other ethnic groups combined has increased since 2015. This in part reflects the changes to the overall population as reported in the school census.
Age
The children in need population is ageing and those aged 10 and over now make up the majority.
In 2021, young people aged 18 or over who were still receiving care and accommodation or post-care support from children’s social care services accounted for 1 in 8 of children in need. Unborn children accounted for 1 in 50.
Characteristics of children in need at 31 March, 2015 to 2021, England
| 2015 (%) | 2018 (%) | 2021 (%) | % point difference 2015 - 2021 | ||
| Gender | Female | 45.5 | 45.0 | 44.3 | -1.2 |
| Male | 52.5 | 53.0 | 53.6 | 1.1 | |
| Unknown or Indeterminate/Unborn | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 0.1 | |
| Ethnicity | White | 75.1 | 72.6 | 70.9 | -4.2 |
| Other Ethnic Groups | 24.9 | 27.4 | 29.1 | 4.2 | |
| Age | Under 1/Unborn | 7.1 | 6.9 | 6.3 | -0.8 |
| 1 – 9 years old | 44.6 | 41.6 | 37.8 | -6.8 | |
| 10 – 15 years old | 30.1 | 31.6 | 31.4 | 1.3 | |
| 16 and over | 18.2 | 19.9 | 24.4 | 6.2 |
Footnotes
- White comprises white British, white Irish, traveller of Irish heritage, any other white background and Gypsy/Roma.