The number of children placed on protection plans is continuing to rise, government figures show. Statistics published by the Department for Education show that as of 31 March this year there were 51,080 children on child protection plans, an increase of 770, or 1.5 per cent, on the 50,310 recorded in 2016. The figure is now 30.64 per cent higher than in March 2010 – when it stood at 39,100. The number of referrals to children’s services, defined as a request for services to be provided by children’s social care and is in respect of a child who is not currently in need, also rose. In 2016/17 there were 646,120 referrals, a 3.97 per cent increase on the 2015/16 figure of 621,470. It represents the second highest figure this decade, behind the 657,790 referrals recorded in 2014. Read more.
You may also like
Disadvantaged students have higher rates of mental health problems, study finds
More than one in three economically disadvantaged Year 8 students have a probable mental health condition, according to initial findings from a ground-breaking study to chart children’s wellbeing post the Covid-19...
October 5, 2026
Long-term fund to tackle causes of child poverty
Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) fund will support projects that reduce the short or long-term effects of poverty on the life chances and outcomes for children. The Better Futures Fund (BFF) aims to...
September 23, 2026
Pay rent, eat or keep warm? Growing numbers face hard choices as housing benefit gap grows
Wirral mother among renters turning to food banks as gap between a two-bed and housing benefit hits £158 a month – rising to as much as £324 in London Read the full article on this link to The Guardian Share this: Share...
September 23, 2026
