WALES

The figures presented below are taken from statistical reports gathered and published by government departments and bodies. Details of sources are provided at the foot of this page.

Looked After Children
  Placements
  Legal Status
Adoption and Special Guardianship
  Adoptions from Care
  Special Guardianship
Sources

LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN

On 31 March 2021:

  • 7,263 children were in the care of local authorities, an increase of 2% on the previous year
  • This is a rate of 115.3 looked after children per 10,000 population under 18 years

Placements

On 31 March 2021:

  • 70% (5,072) of children looked after were living with foster carers. Of these 1,609 were relatives or friends foster carers.
  • 16% (1,198) were living with their parents or another person with parental responsibility
  • 7% (535) were living in secure units, children's homes or hostels
  • 3% (235) were placed for adoption
  • 2% (132) were living independently, in residential schools or in other placements

7% of children (516) looked after at 31 March 2021 had three or more placements during 2020-21.

Legal Status

On 31 March 2021 there were:

  • 6,215 children looked after under care orders
  • 510 children with a single period of accommodation
  • 7 children in remand, detained or with an other compulsory order
  • 531 children were looked after with an other legal status

 

ADOPTION AND SPECIAL GUARDIANSHIP

Adoptions from Care

During the year ending 31 March 2021:

  • 266 children were adopted from care, with 22 (8%) adopted by their former foster carer
  • 91% (240) of adoptions were by couples and 9% (25) were by single adopters
  • 13% (35) of all adoptions were by same sex couples (25 male same sex couples and 10 female same sex couples)

Special Guardianship

During the year ending 31 March 2021:

  • 220 children left care through a Special Guardianship Order
  • 89% (195) Special Guardianship Orders were made to former foster carers, and 11% (25) to carers other than former foster carers

 


SOURCES

Welsh Government StatsWales: Children's Service Statistics

The StatsWales tables include data on children looked after by local authority, gender, age, ethnicity, legal status, placement type, children starting to be looked after and episodes finishing for children looked after as well as respite care. Data on adoptions is broken down by ethnicity, gender and marital status of adopters, age and gender of child, average age at adoption, foster carer adoptions and timeliness of adoption process. There are also tables on care leavers at 19th birthday, educational qualifications of care leavers and applications for adoption intermediary services.

Welsh Government:  Children looked after by local authorities: April 2020 to March 2021

This statistical release presents figures about children looked after by Welsh local authorities and includes sections on placements, children looked after by need for care, children looked after leaving care, adoptions, educational attainments and qualifications and key quality information.