I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the Council's expenditure on placements for children and young people under the age of 16 during the 2025/26 financial year (to date). Specifically, I am seeking information regarding placements that are unregistered with Ofsted (often referred to as "unregulated" or "emergency bespoke arrangements") where staffing was provided by recruitment or staffing agencies.

1. Total Expenditure: The total amount spent by Children’s Services on unregistered/unregistered-bespoke placements for children under the age of 16.

2. Agency Breakdown (Property vs. No Property): Of the total spend identified in Question 1, please itemize the spend with recruitment/staffing agencies according to the following two categories:
o Category A (Staffing Only): Total spend where the agency provided staffing only (e.g., to support a child in a council-owned property, a hospital setting, air bnb or a pre-existing foster/residential placement).
o Category B (Staffing & Property): Total spend where the agency provided both the staffing AND the accommodation (e.g., the agency provided private property as part of the "wraparound" crisis package).

3. Supplier List: A list of every recruitment or staffing agency used for these U16 placements in the 2025/26 period, and the total amount paid to each.

4. Team/Budget Line: Please confirm which service area or budget team this spend was authorized under (e.g., Placements Budget, Social Work Staffing Budget, or Emergency/Crisis Fund)

We did not have any children/young people under the age of 16 during the 2025/26 financial year in placements that are unregistered with Ofsted (often referred to as 'unregulated' or 'emergency bespoke arrangements') where staffing was provided by recruitment or staffing agencies.