Children looked after: A focus on placement location
Reporting year 2024

Description

This document describes the data included in the ‘Children looked after: A focus on placement location' release's underlying data files. This is an ad hoc statistical release and uses the annual published data from the Children looked after data collection (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-looked-after-children). A guide (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/children-looked-after-return-guide-to-submitting-data) for the 2024 data collection provides further information on the data collected.

The methodology (https://admin.explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/methodology/13d8d947-dec0-4088-2ff1-08ddc2b36b34/content) document for this subject should be referenced alongside this release. It provides information on the data sources, their coverage and quality and how the analysis is produced.

Coverage

This analysis is based upon information collected in the SSDA903 (CLA) data collection, it is a child level dataset collected from local authorities in England annually. For the Special educational needs (SEN) status, the SEN data is taken from both the school census and alternative provision census.

Information on the coverage of the SSDA903 collection can be found in the data guidance (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions/2024/data-guidance) for the ‘Children looked after in England’ publication.

Information on the SEN data can be found in the data guidance (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/outcomes-for-children-in-need-including-children-looked-after-by-local-authorities-in-england/2024/data-guidance) for the ‘Outcomes for children in need’ publication.

The data presented in this publication is derived by linking the cohort of children from the SSDA903 collection with outcomes data using child-level identifiers, information includes:

- children looked after on 31 March in each year, including unaccompanied asylum seeking children
- placement type
- placement locality
- child characteristics, including SEN provision by social care group
- LA breakdowns for CLA placement locality
- the journey of CLA experiencing outside the LA boundary placements

It includes annual data for children looked after from 2015 - 2024 at 31 March.

Numbers and percentage exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements.

Users of the data should consider the following:

- for some local authorities, the figures may be impacted by large numbers of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and their distinctive characteristics
- from April 2019 the three local authorities ‘Dorset’, ‘Bournemouth’ and ‘Poole’ reorganised into  two local authorities ‘Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’ and ‘Dorset’. As part of this, a small number of children formerly looked after in the Christchurch area of Dorset were transferred to the new authority ‘Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’
- from April 2021 Northamptonshire split into two local authorities, ‘North Northamptonshire’ and ‘West Northamptonshire’
- from April 2023 Cumbria split into two local authorities, ‘Westmorland and Furness’ and ‘Cumberland’
- From 28 April 2023, supported accommodation providers in England were able to register with Ofsted and it became illegal for a supported accommodation provider to operate if they had not submitted a complete application which had been accepted by 28 October 2023. For 2024, figures in the category 'Independent and semi-independent living arrangements/supported accommodation' include young people, before 28 October 2023, who were placed in former semi independent living accommodation or who formerly lived independently, and also young people in placements from 28 April 2023 onwards at a provider that had submitted a complete application to Ofsted to operate as a supported accommodation provider by the deadline. Former semi-independent and former independent living providers who did not submit a completed application that was accepted by Ofsted by the end of 27 October 2023 who continued to provide placements are classified as ‘Other placements’ from 28 October 2023 onwards.
- In 2024, there are 153 local authorities and 13 secure units in England, therefore most placements will inevitably be outside the local authority boundary.
- For CLA with a placement distance not known or not recorded - in most cases this will be because the child was UASC, but it could also be because the home address was not known or for reasons of confidentiality.

File formats and conventions

Rounding and suppression

National and regional figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Local authority figures are unrounded.

Where any number is shown as zero, the original figure submitted was zero.

The following symbols have been used in the releases (to align with GSS standards):

- ‘c’ to protect confidentiality. Secondary suppression may be required
- ‘z’ for not applicable
- ‘k’  used for a value that would round to zero but is not  zero, for example where a percentage is <0.5%

For percentages:

- to protect confidentiality some numbers are replaced by ‘c’
- they may not sum to 100% due to rounding
- they are rounded to whole numbers

For averages:

- the average (mean and median) placement distance has been rounded to zero decimal places.

Data files

Placement locality for CLA

Filename: national_locality.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Children looked after in England on 31 March each year, placed inside or outside the LA boundary.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
-------------  |  ---------------------------------
child_count    |  Number
Location       |  Location of children looked after
percent_count  |  Percentage

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.


Placement distance for CLA

Filename: national_distance.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Children looked after in England on 31 March each year who are placed less than 20 miles, over 20 miles from their home address or where the distance was not known or recorded.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
-------------  |  -------------------------------
child_count    |  Number
distance       |  Distance of placement from home
percent_count  |  Percentage

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. For CLA with a placement distance not known or not recorded - in most cases this will be because the child was UASC, but it could also be because the home address was not known or for reasons of confidentiality.


Alternative placement distance groupings for CLA

Filename: national_distance_alternative.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Children looked after in England on 31 March each year, by placement distance groupings.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
-------------  |  -------------------------------
alt_distance   |  Distance of placement from home
child_count    |  Number
percent_count  |  Percentage

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. For CLA with a placement distance not known or not recorded - in most cases this will be because the child was UASC, but it could also be because the home address was not known or for reasons of confidentiality.


Placement distance locality for CLA

Filename: distance_locality.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Children looked after in England on 31 March each year, by placement distance locality (inside or outside the LA boundary, and distance from home address).

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  -------------------------------------------------------------------
child_count        |  Number
distance_locality  |  Placement location and distance from home for children looked after
percent_count      |  Percentage

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. For CLA with a placement distance not known or not recorded - in most cases this will be because the child was UASC, but it could also be because the home address was not known or for reasons of confidentiality.


Median distance for CLA placement locality

Filename: all_CLA_median.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: The average (median) distance from home for all children looked after, children looked after inside the LA boundary and children looked after outside the LA boundary.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name    |  Variable description
---------------  |  ----------------------
cla_category     |  CLA placement locality
median_distance  |  Median distance

Footnotes:

1. The average distance relates to the median average.


CLA placement moves by distance

Filename: placement_moves_distance.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: The number of children looked after who are placed over 20 miles from home by the number of placement moves during the year.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name   |  Variable description
--------------  |  --------------------------------------------
child_count     |  Number
distance        |  Distance of placement from home
num_placements  |  Number of placements for CLA during the year

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. Distance is the distance in miles between the child's home and placement. In some cases this is not known, for example UASC, or not recorded for confidentiality reasons, such as some children placed for adoption.
3. Children could be counted more than once, e.g. a child with 5 placements will be counted 5 times, once in ‘First or only placement’, once in ‘Second placement’ and three times in ‘Third or subsequent placement’.


CLA placement moves by average distance

Filename: placement_moves_average.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: The average distances of placement moves during the year for all children looked after at 31 March.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name            |  Variable description
-----------------------  |  ----------------------------------------------
average_distance_mean    |  Average (mean) distance (miles) of placement
average_distance_median  |  Average (median) distance (miles) of placement
num_placements           |  Number of placements for CLA during the year

Footnotes:

1. Distance is the distance in miles between the child's home and placement. In some cases this is not known, for example UASC, or not recorded for confidentiality reasons, such as some children placed for adoption.
2. All placements for a child are included in the calculations. e.g. for children with 2 placements, both placements contribute towards average distances.


Placement type for CLA outside LA boundary

Filename: placement_type.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Placement type for children looked after placed inside or outside the LA boundary on 31 March each year.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  --------------------------------------------
child_count_in     |  Number of CLA placed inside LA boundary
child_count_out    |  Number of CLA placed outside LA boundary
percent_count_in   |  Percentage of CLA placed inside LA boundary
percent_count_out  |  Percentage of CLA placed outside LA boundary
placement_group    |  Type of placement for children looked after

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. In 2024 there were 153 local authorities and 13 secure units in England, therefore most placements will inevitably be outside the local authority boundary.
3. The category 'Independent and semi-independent living arrangements/ supported accommodation' reports data for young people in placements in former semi-independent living arrangements and living independently up to and including 2023. From 2024 all placements are supported accommodation (registered with Ofsted). From 28 October 2023 it became illegal for young people to be placed in former semi independent and independent living placements. Supported accommodation providers were required to submit a completed application to Ofsted by 28 October 2023. In 2024, young people who were placed in former semi independent and independent living placements with providers who had not submitted a completed application by the deadline are reported within the 'Other' category.


CLA placed outside the LA boundary by placement type

Filename: placement_prop_OOA.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Children looked after on 31 March each year. by placement type and whether they're located inside or outside the LA boundary.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  --------------------------------------------
child_count_in     |  Number of CLA placed inside LA boundary
child_count_out    |  Number of CLA placed outside LA boundary
child_count_total  |  Total number of CLA in placement
percent_count_in   |  Percentage of CLA placed inside LA boundary
percent_count_out  |  Percentage of CLA placed outside LA boundary
placement_group    |  Type of placement for children looked after

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. In 2024 there were 153 local authorities and 13 secure units in England, therefore most placements will inevitably be outside the local authority boundary.
3. The category 'Independent and semi-independent living arrangements/ supported accommodation' reports data for young people in placements in former semi-independent living arrangements and living independently up to and including 2023. From 2024 all placements are supported accommodation (registered with Ofsted). From 28 October 2023 it became illegal for young people to be placed in former semi independent and independent living placements. Supported accommodation providers were required to submit a completed application to Ofsted by 28 October 2023. In 2024, young people who were placed in former semi independent and independent living placements with providers who had not submitted a completed application by the deadline are reported within the 'Other' category.
4. Secure children's homes provide a safe place where very vulnerable children and young people can receive the care, support and education they need.


Median distance for CLA placement types

Filename: placement_type_median.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: The median distance of each placement type for children looked after in England on 31 March each year.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name    |  Variable description
---------------  |  -----------------------------
median_distance  |  Median distance
placement_type   |  Type of placement for all CLA

Footnotes:

1. In 2024 there were 153 local authorities and 13 secure units in England, therefore most placements will inevitably be outside the local authority boundary.
2. The category 'Independent and semi-independent living arrangements/ supported accommodation' reports data for young people in placements in former semi-independent living arrangements and living independently up to and including 2023. From 2024 all placements are supported accommodation (registered with Ofsted). From 28 October 2023 it became illegal for young people to be placed in former semi independent and independent living placements. Supported accommodation providers were required to submit a completed application to Ofsted by 28 October 2023. In 2024, young people who were placed in former semi independent and independent living placements with providers who had not submitted a completed application by the deadline are reported within the 'Other' category.
3. The average distance relates to the median average.


Types of placement for CLA by distance locality

Filename: placement_comparison.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Children looked after in England on 31 March each year, by distance locality and placement type.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  -------------------------------------------------------------------
child_count        |  Number
distance_locality  |  Placement location and distance from home for children looked after
percent_count      |  Percentage
placement_type     |  Type of placement for children looked after

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. For CLA with a placement distance not known or not recorded - in most cases this will be because the child was UASC, but it could also be because the home address was not known or for reasons of confidentiality.


Fostering providers by placement distance for CLA

Filename: fostering_providers.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Children looked after by foster provider and type in England on 31 March each year, by placement distance.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name          |  Variable description
---------------------  |  ------------------------
child_count            |  Number of CLA
foster_placement_type  |  Type of foster placement
placement_distance     |  Distance of placement

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.


Median distance for fostering providers and fostering type

Filename: fostering_types_median.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: The median distance of each fostering provider and type for children looked after in England on 31 March each year.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name    |  Variable description
---------------  |  ----------------------------
median_distance  |  Median distance
placement_type   |  Type of fostering placements

Footnotes:

1. The average distance relates to the median average.


CLA by placement distance locality and by gender

Filename: gender.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Children looked after on 31 March each year, by distance locality and gender.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  ------------------------------
child_count        |  Number
gender             |  Gender of the child
location_distance  |  Distance locality of placement
percent_count      |  Percentage

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. For CLA with a placement distance not known or not recorded - in most cases this will be because the child was UASC, but it could also be because the home address was not known or for reasons of confidentiality.


CLA by placement distance locality and by age

Filename: age.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Children looked after on 31 March each year, by distance locality and age.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  ------------------------------
age_group          |  Age group for the child
child_count        |  Number
location_distance  |  Distance locality of placement
percent_count      |  Percentage

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. For CLA with a placement distance not known or not recorded - in most cases this will be because the child was UASC, but it could also be because the home address was not known or for reasons of confidentiality.


CLA by placement distance locality and by ethnicity

Filename: ethnicity.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Children looked after on 31 March each year, by distance locality and ethnicity.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  ------------------------------
child_count        |  Number
ethnicity_major    |  Ethnicity group for the child
location_distance  |  Distance locality of placement
percent_count      |  Percentage

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. For CLA with a placement distance not known or not recorded - in most cases this will be because the child was UASC, but it could also be because the home address was not known or for reasons of confidentiality.


CLA by placement distance locality and by SDQ

Filename: SDQ.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Children looked after on 31 March each year, by distance locality and SDQ score.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  -------------------------------
child_count        |  Number
location_distance  |  Distance locality of placement
percent_count      |  Percentage
sdq_score          |  SDQ score category of the child

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. For CLA with a placement distance not known or not recorded - in most cases this will be because the child was UASC, but it could also be because the home address was not known or for reasons of confidentiality.


CLA by placement locality and by SEN

Filename: SEN.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023/24
Content summary: Children looked after on 31 March each year, by distance locality and SEN provision.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  -------------------------------
child_count        |  Number
percent_count      |  Percentage
sen                |  SEN requirements for the child
social_care_group  |  Social care group for the child

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.


UASC status and locality

Filename: UASC_locality.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Children looked after on 31 March each year who were unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and their placement locality.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
-------------  |  ---------------------------------
child_count    |  Number
Location       |  Location of children looked after
percent_count  |  Percentage
UASC_status    |  UASC status

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.


UASC by placement type and locality

Filename: UASC_placement.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2024
Content summary: Children looked after on 31 March 2024 who were unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, by placement type and distance locality.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name         |  Variable description
--------------------  |  ---------------------------
child_count           |  Number
percent_count         |  Percentage
placement_location    |  Placement location for UASC
uasc_placement_group  |  Placement type for UASC

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. The category 'Independent and semi-independent living arrangements/ supported accommodation' reports data for young people in placements in former semi-independent living arrangements and living independently up to and including 2023. From 2024 all placements are supported accommodation (registered with Ofsted). From 28 October 2023 it became illegal for young people to be placed in former semi independent and independent living placements. Supported accommodation providers were required to submit a completed application to Ofsted by 28 October 2023. In 2024, young people who were placed in former semi independent and independent living placements with providers who had not submitted a completed application by the deadline are reported within the 'Other' category.


UASC distance where distance is not known or not recorded

Filename: UASC_distance_unknown.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2015 to 2024
Content summary: Children looked after on 31 March each year who were placed a not known or not recorded distance from home, broken down by their unaccompanied asylum-seeking children status.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
-------------  |  -----------
child_count    |  Number
percent_count  |  Percentage
uasc_status    |  UASC status

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. For CLA with a placement distance not known or not recorded - in most cases this will be because the child was UASC, but it could also be because the home address was not known or for reasons of confidentiality.


CLA by placement distance locality and by LA

Filename: LA_OOA_prop.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2024
Content summary: Children looked after on 31 March 2024 placed outside the local authority boundary and over 20 miles from home, by the responsible local authority.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name    |  Variable description
---------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------
child_count      |  Total CLA
child_count_ooa  |  Number of CLA placed outside LA boundary and over 20 miles
percent_count    |  Percentage of CLA placed outside of LA boundary and over 20 miles

Footnotes:

1. Due to local government reorganisation, data for Cumbria is unavailable for 2024.


Number of CLA placed inside or outside the LA boundary, by LA

Filename: LA_in_out_placer.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority
Time period: 2024
Content summary: Children looked after on 31 March 2024 by local authority, broken down by whether they remain inside or outside the local authority boundary. The local authority is then categorised as an in-placer or out-placer.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
---------  |  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
la_net     |  Net CLA movement across LAs
placer     |  LA status
total_in   |  Total CLA placed within this LA boundary
total_out  |  CLA who are the responsibility of this LA placed outside the LA boundary

Footnotes:

1. Net CLA movement is the difference between the total CLA who are placed within this LA boundary and the number of CLA who are the responsibility of this LA placed outside the LA boundary. These figures also include CLA who are the responsibility of a LA that remain within that LA boundary, therefore the figures will not match to the published LA net gain table (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions).


CLA placed outside neighbouring LAs by placement type

Filename: outside_neighbouring_LAs_placement_type.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2024
Content summary: Children looked after on 31 March 2024 placed outside their own local authority, outside neighbouring local authorities and over 20 miles from home, by placement type, including average distance placed.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name     |  Variable description
----------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
average_distance  |  Average distance (miles) of placement
child_count       |  Number
percent_count     |  Percentage
placement_group   |  Type of placement for children looked after outside of neighbouring LAs

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. CLA are defined as placed ‘outside the neighbouring LAs’ when the placement is outside the responsible LA, outside the neighbouring LAs that share a physical border and over 20 miles from their home address.
3. In 2024 there were 153 local authorities and 13 secure units in England, therefore most placements will inevitably be outside the local authority boundary.
4. The category 'Independent and semi-independent living arrangements/ supported accommodation' reports data for young people in placements in former semi-independent living arrangements and living independently up to and including 2023. From 2024 all placements are supported accommodation (registered with Ofsted). From 28 October 2023 it became illegal for young people to be placed in former semi independent and independent living placements. Supported accommodation providers were required to submit a completed application to Ofsted by 28 October 2023. In 2024, young people who were placed in former semi independent and independent living placements with providers who had not submitted a completed application by the deadline are reported within the 'Other' category.
5. The average distance relates to the mean average.


CLA placed outside neighbouring LAs in foster care by origin

Filename: foster_origins.csv
Geographic levels: Regional
Time period: 2024
Content summary: The placement region for children looked after who are placed in foster care with other foster carers and outside of the neighbouring LAs, by the region of their home address.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  --------------------------------------
child_count        |  Number
cla_region_origin  |  The region of the child's home address
percent_count      |  Percentage

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. CLA are defined as placed ‘outside the neighbouring LAs’ when the placement is outside the responsible LA, outside the neighbouring LAs that share a physical border and over 20 miles from their home address.


CLA placed outside neighbouring LAs in foster care by destination

Filename: foster_destinations.csv
Geographic levels: Regional
Time period: 2024
Content summary: Children looked after who are placed in foster care with other foster carers and outside of the neighbouring LAs, by the destination of their placement.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name           |  Variable description
----------------------  |  -------------------------------------
child_count             |  Number
cla_region_destination  |  The region where the child was placed
percent_count           |  Percentage

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. CLA are defined as placed ‘outside the neighbouring LAs’ when the placement is outside the responsible LA, outside the neighbouring LAs that share a physical border and over 20 miles from their home address.


CLA placed outside neighbouring LAs in children's homes by origin

Filename: CH_origins.csv
Geographic levels: Regional
Time period: 2024
Content summary: The placement region for children looked after who are placed in children's homes and outside of the neighbouring LAs, by the region of their home address.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name      |  Variable description
-----------------  |  --------------------------------------
child_count        |  Number
cla_region_origin  |  The region of the child's home address
percent_count      |  Percentage

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. CLA are defined as placed ‘outside the neighbouring LAs’ when the placement is outside the responsible LA, outside the neighbouring LAs that share a physical border and over 20 miles from their home address.


CLA placed outside neighbouring LAs in children's homes by destination

Filename: CH_destinations.csv
Geographic levels: Regional
Time period: 2024
Content summary: Children looked after who are placed in children's homes and outside of the neighbouring LAs, by the destination of their placement.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name           |  Variable description
----------------------  |  -------------------------------------
child_count             |  Number
cla_region_destination  |  The region where the child was placed
percent_count           |  Percentage

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. CLA are defined as placed ‘outside the neighbouring LAs’ when the placement is outside the responsible LA, outside the neighbouring LAs that share a physical border and over 20 miles from their home address.


Journey - reason for new episode

Filename: stability_RNE.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2024
Content summary: The reason for a new episode of care for children looked after who entered care during 2015-16 (up until 2023-24), who had at least one placement outside the LA boundary in their period of care.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name           |  Variable description
----------------------  |  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
child_count             |  Number
percent_count           |  Percentage
reason_for_new_episode  |  Reason for new episode for the child in their first out of area placement

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.


Journey - duration

Filename: stability_DUR.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2024
Content summary: For children looked after who entered care during 2015-16 (up until 2023-24), the time between entering care and moving into their first outside the LA boundary placement.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name       |  Variable description
------------------  |  -----------------------------------------------------------
child_count         |  Number
first_ooa_duration  |  The duration of the first out of area placement for a child
percent_count       |  Percentage

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.


Journey - day of the week

Filename: stability_DAY.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2024
Content summary: For children looked after who entered care during 2015-16 (up until 2023-24), the day of the week they moved into their first outside the local boundary placement.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name  |  Variable description
-------------  |  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
child_count    |  Number
first_ooa_day  |  Day of the week a child was moved into their first out of area placement
percent_count  |  Percentage

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.


Placement type by child characteristics

Filename: placement_demographics.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2024
Content summary: Placement type for children looked after by age, gender and ethnicity demographics at 31 March 2024.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name   |  Variable description
--------------  |  -----------------
breakdown       |  Characteristic
number          |  Number
percentage      |  Percentage
placement_type  |  Type of placement

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. The category 'Independent and semi-independent living arrangements/ supported accommodation' reports data for young people in placements in former semi-independent living arrangements and living independently up to and including 2023. From 2024 all placements are supported accommodation (registered with Ofsted). From 28 October 2023 it became illegal for young people to be placed in former semi independent and independent living placements. Supported accommodation providers were required to submit a completed application to Ofsted by 28 October 2023. In 2024, young people who were placed in former semi independent and independent living placements with providers who had not submitted a completed application by the deadline are reported within the 'Other' category.


Placement type by special educational needs (SEN) status

Filename: placement_sen.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2023/24
Content summary: Placement type for children looked after at 31 March 2024 by SEN provision.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name   |  Variable description
--------------  |  ------------------------------
number          |  Number
percentage      |  Percentage
placement_type  |  Type of placement
sen             |  SEN requirements for the child

Footnotes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures in some tables may be suppressed, denoted by a 'c', percentages <0.5% are denoted by a 'k' . Historical data may differ from older children looked after publications which is mainly due to amendments made by local authorities after the publication. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.
2. The category 'Independent and semi-independent living arrangements/ supported accommodation' reports data for young people in placements in former semi-independent living arrangements and living independently up to and including 2023. From 2024 all placements are supported accommodation (registered with Ofsted). From 28 October 2023 it became illegal for young people to be placed in former semi independent and independent living placements. Supported accommodation providers were required to submit a completed application to Ofsted by 28 October 2023. In 2024, young people who were placed in former semi independent and independent living placements with providers who had not submitted a completed application by the deadline are reported within the 'Other' category.
