See answers to previous information requests

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to request the following information regarding Looked After Children (also referred to as children looked after). I am aware of the data published by the Department for Education within the “Children looked after in England, including adoptions” statistical releases. However, the specific breakdowns requested below are not available within the published tables, which is why this FOI request has been submitted.

1. Please could you supply the name, job title, telephone number and email address of the commissioner with responsibility for Looked After Children and/or placements in children’s homes.

For questions 2-5 and 7, please supply data for the following financial years – 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25, and, where possible, an estimate or most up-to-date snapshot available for 2025/26.

2. Of the number of children looked after by the local authority on 31 March, please provide the number in regulated children's homes (excluding unregulated children’s homes, secure units and hostels).

3. Of the number of children looked after by the local authority on 31 March in regulated children's homes (Q2), please provide the number placed inside the local authority boundary (in-area) and the number placed outside the local authority boundary (out-of-area).

4. Of the number of children looked after by the local authority on 31 March in regulated children's homes, please provide the number in:
a) In-area regulated children's homes operated by the local authority
b) Out-of-area regulated children's homes operated by the local authority
c) In-area regulated children's homes operated by the private/voluntary sector
d) Out-of-area regulated children's homes operated by the private/voluntary sector.

5. Please provide the local authority’s total expenditure on placements for Looked After Children in regulated children’s homes during the financial year ending 31 March. Expenditure should exclude expenses related to travel, social work visits, travel arrangements/accommodation for contact visits from relatives/guardians, and non-staff transport costs.

6. For the current financial year ending 31 March 2026 or as recent as possible (provide date), please provide the highest, average (mean), and lowest weekly fees currently paid by the local authority for placements for Looked After Children in regulated children’s homes. Please include data across all placements in regulated children’s homes, independent of whether they are made in-area or out-of-area and in local authority or private/voluntary sector provision.

7. Please provide the total number of children (children looked after and children in need) accessing short-break-only children's homes on 31 March.