Number of looked-after children at highest level in almost 25 years

The number of looked-after children has reached its highest level in almost a quarter of a century, the government has revealed.

According to the Department for Education, there were 65,520 looked after children at 31 March 2011. This was the highest number since 1987 and a 2% increase on 2010.

The statistics also revealed that:

• The vast majority of looked-after children (74%) were in a foster placement
• The number of adoptions fell by 5% in the year ending March 2011 to 3,050
• The number of children placed for adoption fell 2% to 2,450. This was also 10% lower than in 2007
• Only 60 children under the age of one were adopted in 2010/11, compared to 70 children in 2010. In 2007 the figure was 150
• The average length of time children waited to be adopted was two years and seven months
• The proportion of care leavers not in education, employment or training increased from 32% in 2010 to 33% in 2011.

Children’s Minister Tim Loughton said: “Today’s statistics are a timely reminder that we must redouble our efforts to do better for children in care.

“It’s worrying that the number of adoptions has continued to decline, and it’s simply not good enough for vulnerable children to be waiting well over two years to be adopted. It’s also concerning that for those children leaving care, around a third are not in education, employment or training – much higher than the general population.”

The Minister insisted that the government was taking a number of steps to address the issues raised by the statistics.

These include guidance intended to tackle some of the myths that are said to block potentially suitable adoptions, and the appointment of former Barnardos chief executive Martin Narey as an adviser to the government.

Narey has been tasked with reducing delay in the adoption system and improving local authority practice.

Loughton said: “This is only the start. The Family Justice Review, due later in the year, will be crucial in tackling the delays and bureaucracy hampering the family courts. Later in the year, we will also be responding to Martin Narey’s adoption report and addressing some of his concerns about the system.”

The British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) expressed disappointment that the latest figures showed a further decline in adoption from care.

But it stressed that the statistics reflected adoption orders. “Those are orders that are granted at the very end of the adoption process once a child has already been living with its adoptive parents for some time and has had time to settle,” it said. “As such they do not give an up to date picture of current adoption activity.”

The BAAF insisted that all the indicators were that adoption activity was increasing. “As a result we remain optimistic and expect adoptions from care to increase over the next two years,” it said.