What is a looked-after child?

In England and Wales, a looked-after child is a child in the care of a council. Under section 22 of the Children Act 1989, that means a child subject to a care order, or one provided with accommodation by the council for more than 24 hours, for example by agreement with the parents.

Looked-after children may live with foster carers, in children's homes, with relatives or, in some cases, with their parents. Young people who leave care at 16 or over are "care leavers" and have separate rights. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own legislation and definitions.

"Looked-after children" is not the same as "children in need" or children on child protection plans, which are wider or different groups. Official figures for each are published separately: see how many children are in care.

Official sources: Children Act 1989, section 22 · DfE: children looked after in England

When is the next figure out?

DHSC provider statistics come out quarterly at 9:30am on a Thursday, with the next date in each release. DfE publishes childcare take-up in July, the provider survey in December, children in need in autumn and children looked after in November, at 9:30am. Skills for Care publishes its workforce estimates each June and its state of the sector report each autumn.

Every official release due in the next two weeks is on the release calendar.

Terms used in this answer

• Pupil premium
  Extra funding for state schools in England for each disadvantaged pupil, such as those eligible for free school meals in the past six years or who are looked after.

Where the figures come from

• Social care, childcare and children's social care statistics (DHSC, NHS England, Skills for Care, DfE, ONS and devolved bodies)
  Where to find official figures on care homes, social care staff, delayed discharge, unpaid carers, free childcare, childcare costs and children in care.

Related questions

• How many children are in care in the UK?
• How many children are on child protection plans in England?
• How many free childcare hours can parents get in England?

This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about social care and childcare: all Social care and childcare questions.