Forms of vulnerability for children including poverty, housing insecurity and missing school continue to rise, warns think-tank

According to the report, the number of children living in temporary accommodation has risen by 33% since 2018, reaching a record 165,450 in 2024.

Meanwhile, the number of children missing more than half of school has continued to increase and now stands at 176,361, more than triple the level in 2017/18.

The State of the Nation report, published last week (26 July), calls on Andy Burnham's Government to make reducing childhood vulnerability a “national mission”, warning that “incremental change will not be enough”.

Looking at mental health and SEND, the report found that more than 1.27 million referrals were made to children's mental health services in 2024/25, continuing a sharp upward trend.

Meanwhile, the number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans has risen by more than 20% in the last two years, reflecting growing demand for specialist support.

Based on its findings, the Centre for Young Lives made the following recommendations:

• Making reducing childhood vulnerability a national mission, with a clear cross-government commitment to helping all children thrive and reducing vulnerability over the next decade.  
• Creating a Cabinet-level Children and Families Unit to drive action across education, health, housing, justice, employment and local government.  
• Tackling the root causes of vulnerability, including child poverty, homelessness, poor mental health, domestic abuse and family adversity.  
• Giving mayors and local leaders greater responsibility and accountability for improving outcomes for vulnerable children through joined-up local services.  
• Improving data sharing between services so vulnerable children can be identified earlier and do not fall through the gaps.

Haroon Chowdry, Chief Executive, Centre for Young Lives, said: “Some of the country's most vulnerable children - those taken into care by the state - are increasingly living in potentially inappropriate homes or areas. And more than a million young people are not in education, employment or training.

“This is holding back not only their own life chances but our country’s social cohesion and future prosperity.

“Despite some welcome action from the Government, much more needs to be done to support children, address vulnerability and disadvantage, and prevent any problems they face from reaching crisis level.

“We can’t have more of the same – an announcement here, an initiative there, and a couple of pilot programmes. Incremental change will not cut it anymore.”

Responding to the report, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children, Young People and Families Committee, said: “It is tragic that any child grows up in crisis, and this report delivers a stark warning to the new Prime Minister and his government of the need to prioritise the lives of vulnerable children.

“Supporting children and young people and helping them to lead happy and fulfilling lives is one of the most important jobs councils do, but they need long-term, sustainable funding to continue providing this vital service.

“The Child Poverty Strategy and Best Start in Life were positive steps taken by the previous administration. It is now important that we build on that ambition, with a cross-government approach to delivery which tackles the wider public policy challenges around social security, housing and employment, and ensures every child can thrive.”

Lottie Winson