Vision statement four: Where living with their family is not possible, children must stay with their brothers and sisters where safe to do so and belong to a loving home, staying there for as long as needed.
The number of children and young people who cannot live with their family, living in a family setting, increases.
Number of children 'placed' in secure care at 31st July by Scottish local authorities, and as proportion of all children who are ‘looked after’.
| Year | Number | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59 | 0.5% |
| 2024 | 46 | 0.4% |
| 2023 | 47 | 0.4% |
| 2022 | 47 | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 38 | 0.3% |
| 2020 | 59 | 0.4% |
| 2019 | 63 | 0.0% |
Notes
Reporting period: 31 July 2025
Last updated: April 2026
Next Update due: April 2027
Expanded Content
The number of children in the ‘care system’ living in secure care increased from 46 in 2024 to 59 in 2025, representing 0.5% of all children in the ‘care system’. This is roughly in line with the number in 2019 (63) and 2020 (59).