Children Looked After
A child is 'looked after' (also described as 'in care') if they are in the care of the local authority for more than 24 hours. Children can be in care by agreement with parents or by order of a court.
Most children in care are safe from harm and do well, with strong plans to ensure that their needs are met. For some, there are particular risks. Children in care have many different experiences before becoming looked after, and this increases their vulnerability (e.g., parents' difficulties, abuse, poor emotional well-being, etc.).
In the reporting year 2024 the number of children looked after (CLA) by local authorities in England was 83,630 - very similar (down <0.5%) to 2023. This is a rate of 70 children looked after per 10,000 children.
The number of CLA who were adopted was similar to last year at 2,980 (down <0.5%).
Children looked after in England including adoptions, Reporting year 2024 - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK
The detailed duties and responsibilities of the responsible authority with regard to safeguarding children are clearly set out in the statutory guidance Working together to safeguard children 2023: statutory guidance.
Children who are looked after may be living:
- with foster parents
- at home with their parents under the supervision of children’s social care
- in a residential children’s home
- with extended family members (known as kinship placements)
- with friends of the family or other ‘connected persons’ (such as a teacher, youth worker, etc.)
- other residential settings like residential schools or secure units.
Therefore, even though the child is looked after, they may not be living in what may be traditionally seen as a “care” environment.
Risks and vulnerabilities
Children who are looked after are:
- at greater risk of being bullied or abused by peers
- more likely to be the target of exploitation
- significantly more likely to run away
- at greater risk of misusing substances due to previous experiences
- more likely to suffer social, emotional and mental health difficulties due to trauma
- at a higher risk of having some form of developmental delay
- potentially going to have issues with their identity
- more likely to have special educational needs or disabilities.
Children who are looked after often face several additional risks, such as:
- child criminal exploitation
- risks associated with separation and loss
- institutional abuse/abuse by carers
- risks regarding lack of a suitable placement
- risk associated with instability in placement/lack of a consistent carer
- risks in transition to adulthood
- educational failure and exclusion.
Also, previous experience of abuse can increase the risk of being abused in the future.
This guidance contains the requirements set out by Government to support local authorities, working with fostering service providers, in giving the best possible care and support to the children they look after.
Fostering Guidance - MASTER
Education settings play a key role in protecting children in care. Although settings should have a designated teacher/lead for looked after children, it is everyone’s responsibility to make sure that children who are looked after are safeguarded.
Guidance specifically for governors, headteachers, teachers and local authorities – relating to maintained schools.
Designated teacher for looked-after and previously looked-after children - GOV.UK
Further guidance for professionals:
Promoting the education of looked-after children and previously looked-after children