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 2024:
- 7,198 children were in the care of local authorities, an increase of 0.1% on the previous year
- This is a rate of 116.1 looked after children per 10,000 population under 18 years
Placements
On 31 March 2024:
- 68% (4,876) of children looked after were living with foster carers. Of these 1,668 were relatives or friends foster carers.
- 14% (978) were living with their parents or another person with parental responsibility
- 12% (887) were living in secure units, children's homes or hostels
- 2% (155) were placed for adoption
- 2% (175) were living independently, in residential schools or in other placements
- 9% of children (622) looked after at 31 March 2024 had three or more placements during 2023-24.
Legal Status
On 31 March 2024 there were:
- 5,773 children looked after under care orders
- 993 children with a single period of accommodation
- 15 children in remand, detained or with an other compulsory order.
- 432 children were looked after with an other legal status
ADOPTION AND SPECIAL GUARDIANSHIP
Adoptions from Care
During the year ending 31 March 2024:
- 254 children were adopted from care, with 43 (17%) adopted by their former foster carer
- 89% (225) of adoptions were by couples and 10% (25) were by single adopters
- 19% (50) of all adoptions were by same sex couples (30 male same sex couples and 20 female same sex couples)
Special Guardianship
During the year ending 31 March 2024:
- 295 children left care through a Special Guardianship Order
- 80% (235) Special Guardianship Orders were made to former foster carers, and 20% (60) 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 2023 to March 2024
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.