See answers to previous information requests

I'm researching deaths and serious harm incidents in unregistered children's homes, which are children's homes not registered with Ofsted. Councils are required to record the deaths of looked-after children and incidents where children are seriously harmed (where abuse or neglect is known or suspected).

Please note: the Information Commissioner (IC) has made clear in previous cases that low/small numbers should not be suppressed without good reason. In IC-317971-V7G7 the IC ordered a council to disclose figures, which were below 5, showing the number of children sent to secure children's homes annually. It noted: 'if a person were able to identify the child or children involved, it would be because they already knew that the child or children in question had been sent to a secure children’s home. Such a person would learn nothing from the withheld information that they didn’t already know.'

1. How many looked-after children died in unregistered children's homes in each of the following years: 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25?
Zero

2. What were the ages of the looked-after children who died in unregistered children's homes: under 5, under 10, under 16 or aged 16 and 17?
N/A

3. How many serious harm incidents (where abuse or neglect was known or suspected) took place in unregistered children's homes in each of the following years: 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25?
Zero

4. What were the ages of the looked-after children who were seriously harmed (where abuse or neglect was known or suspected) while living in unregistered children's homes: under 5, under 10, under 16 or aged 16 and 17?
N/A