Vision statement one: Where children are in their families and feel loved, they must stay – and families must be given support together to nurture that love and overcome the difficulties which get in the way.
The rate of children entering care decreases. For those that do need to enter care, a higher proportion are able to stay living at home with parents, or in a family setting.
Number and percentage of children in the ‘care system’ who are living at home with parents each year
| Year | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2, 313 | 20.0% |
| 2023 | 2, 435 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 2, 584 | 21.0% |
| 2021 | 2, 853 | 22.0% |
| 2020 | 3, 563 | 25.0% |
| 2019 | 3, 569 | 25.0% |
Notes
Reporting period: 31 July 2024
Last updated: April 2025
Next Update due: April 2026
Expanded Content
The number of “looked after” children living at home with their parents fell by 35% between 31 July 2019 and 31 July 2024.Between 31 July 2020 and 31 July 2021 the number fell by 20% in a single year, and has continued to decrease since.
The proportion of children experiencing care whilst living at home with parents has fallen from a quarter on 31 July 2020 to a fifth on 31 July 2024.