Children’s Looked After Statistics - 2025 ECSPB
Renfrewshire Council · 20 August 2026
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 20 August 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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PUBLIC Page 1 of 6 To: Education and Children’s Services Policy Board On: 20 August 2026 __________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Children’s Services __________________________________________________________________ Heading: Children’s Looked After Statistics - 2025 __________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1. Each year on 31 July, local authorities gather information on the number and characteristics of looked after children in their area. The annual census information is submitted to the Scottish Government who analyse the information and produce an annual report on the national data. The Scottish Government report on the annual census for 31 July 2025 was published on 28 April 2026. 1.2. This report contains information on the number of looked after children on 31 July 2025 at a national and Renfrewshire level. This year the report shows the number and rate per 1000 of looked after children in each category by each local authority (see appendix 1). 1.3. The Scottish Government annual report for 2025 and associated data tables can be accessed via this link: https://www.gov.scot/publications/childrens- social-work-statistics-looked-after-children-2024-25/documents/ 1.4. On 31 July 2025 there were 11,818 looked after children in Scotland compared to 11,844 the previous year, a reduction of 0.22%. The number of looked after children in Renfrewshire on 31 July 2025 was 552 compared to 610 on 31 July 2024, a decrease of 9.51%. 1.5. Renfrewshire had the 6th highest number of looked after children in Scotland on 31 July 2025. The Renfrewshire profile shows high numbers of children looked after at home with their parents or in kinship care arrangements. 1.6. At the Policy Board on 15 May 2025, members noted that children’s services was targeting a 50% reduction in the number of children looked after at home by 31 July 2028. There was a 12.99% reduction in the number of children looked after at home between the 2024 and the 2025 census reports.
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PUBLIC Page 2 of 6 __________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1. Members are asked to: [a] note the information in this report on the number of looked after children in Scotland and Renfrewshire on 31 July 2025, [b] note the 12.99% reduction in the number of children looked after at home from the 2024 census to the 2025 census. __________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1. On 31 July each year, local authorities complete a census for the Scottish Government in relation to the number of children who are looked after. Whilst the census is conducted in July the report on the data is generally not available until the following March or April. The 2025 data report from the Scottish Government was published on 28 April 2026. 3.2. “Looked after” status is a recognised legal status of children where the child is cared for by the local authority under Section 25 of the Children (Scotland) 1995, the subject of a compulsory supervision order (including interim or protection orders) under children’s hearing legislation, or the subject of a permanence order where the local authority holds parental rights and responsibilities in respect of the child. Children who are “looked after” can be cared for at home with their parents, be cared for in kinship arrangements made the local authority, cared for in foster care or in a residential setting. Looked after children – Scotland 2025 3.3. On 31 July 2025 the number of looked after children in Scotland was 11,818. Table 1 shows where the looked after children were living on 31 July 2025 and compares with the data from 31 July 2015. Table 1 2025 2015 % change All looked after 11,818 15,404 -23.28 Looked after at home with parents 2411 3927 -38.60 Kinship arrangements 4182 4158 0.58 Fostering (local authority provided) 2409 3891 -38.09 Fostering (independent sector) 968 1587 -39.00 Children’s houses (local authority) 586 697 -15.93 Children’s houses (purchased) 797 832 -4.21 Other 456 312 46.5
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PUBLIC Page 3 of 6 3.4. There was a 0.22% reduction in the total number of looked after children from the 2024 figure. The trend over the past 10 years has been a reducing number of looked children after children across Scotland. At the census in 2015 the number of looked after children in Scotland was 15,404. Over the ten-year period there has been a reduction of 23.28% in the number of looked after children in Scotland. 3.5. Appendix 1 contains information on the number of looked after children and their care location on the census date for each year from 2015 to 2025. (The 2018 figures are incomplete as Glasgow City was not provided to the Scottish Government). 3.6. Table 2 shows the percentage of Scotland’s looked after children by their care location on 31 July 2025 and provides comparable information for 2015. 2025 2015 Looked after at home with parents 20.40% 25.49% Kinship arrangements 35.39% 26.99% Fostering (local authority provided) 20.38% 25.26% Fostering (independent sector) 8.19% 10.30% Children’s houses (local authority) 4.96% 4.52% Children’s houses (purchased) 6.74% 5.40% Other 3.86% 2.03% 3.7. In 2025 the highest care type for looked after children was those in a kinship arrangement. This particular care arrangement accounted for 26.99% of the looked after children population on 31 July 2015 and compared to 35.39% on 31 July 2025. Looked after children – Renfrewshire 2025 3.8. On 31 July 2025 the number of looked after children in Renfrewshire was 552. Table 3 (on the next page) shows where the looked after children were living on 31 July 2025 and compares with the data from 31 July 2015.
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PUBLIC Page 4 of 6 Table 3 2025 2015 % change All looked after 552 682 -19.06 Looked after at home with parents 134 220 -39.09 Kinship arrangements 240 176 36.36 Fostering (local authority provided) 100 125 -20.00 Fostering (independent sector) 23 92 -75.00 Children’s houses (local authority) 19 35 -45.71 Children’s houses (purchased) 21 16 -31.25 Other 15 18 16.67 3.9. There was a 19.06% reduction in the total number of looked after children in Renfrewshire from the 2024 figure. The trend over the past 10 years has been a reducing number of looked children after children across Scotland and whilst not mirrored exactly in Renfrewshire the trend has overall been a reduction. The number of children who were looked after by Renfrewshire on 31 July 2025 was 19.06% lower than the 2015 census. 3.10. Appendix 2 contains information on the number of looked after children in Renfrewshire and their care location on the census date for each year from 2015 to 2025. 3.11. Table 2 shows the percentage of Renfrewshire’s looked after children by their care location on 31 July 2025 and provides comparable information for 2015. 2025 2015 Looked after at home with parents 24.28% 32.26% Kinship arrangements 43.48% 25.81% Fostering (local authority provided) 18.12% 18.33% Fostering (independent sector) 4.17% 13.49% Children’s houses (local authority) 3.44% 5.13% Children’s houses (purchased) 3.80% 2.35% Other 2.72% 2.64% 3.12. Most of Renfrewshire’s looked after children are cared for in kinship care arrangements. The increase in kinship care arrangements over the 10-year period is a 36.36% increase.
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PUBLIC Page 5 of 6 3.13. Over the 10-year period 2015 to 2025, there has been a 39.09% reduction in children looked after at home and a 75.00% reduction in children placed in foster care in the independent sector. Renfrewshire continues to address the historical high numbers of children looked after at home by improving the review process to ensure that only children who require compulsory intervention are made the subject of orders and the reason for involvement is clear for the child and their family. 3.14. The significant reduction in the use of foster care in the independent sector has been achieved by ensuring all alternative extended family options are explored and therefore linked to increase in the number of kinship arrangements. 3.15. Appendix 2 shows the breakdown of where Renfrewshire’s looked after children live by care placement type for each of the census points from 2015 to 2025. 3.16. Appendix 3 shows information by local authority in terms of numbers and rates per 1000 by the care provision. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of this report 1. Financial Implications The current number of children looked after in external residential provision continues to be higher than the service is comfortable with. The service is working to ensure that children’s needs are met by placements and where possible they can return to Renfrewshire to mitigate demand on budgets. 2. HR and Organisational Development None. 3. Community/Council Planning Building strong, safe and resilient communities Children and families receive the right support to ensure they are safe at home and in the community Working together to improve outcomes Children and families are supported to address the challenges they face 4. Legal The authority works within the legal framework to discharge its duties to looked after children and those involved in the child protection system. 5. Property/Assets None. 6. Information Technology None.
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PUBLIC Page 6 of 6 7. Equality and Human Rights The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report because it is for noting only. 8. Health and Safety None. 9. Procurement None. 10. Risk None. 11. Privacy Impact None. 12. Climate Risk None. 13. Children’s Rights This report demonstrates compliance with Article 3 (best interest of child), Article 9 (keeping families together), Article 12 (respect for children’s views) and 25 (review of a child’s placement) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. 14. Cosla Policy Position None. List of Background Papers None. Children’s Services JT/KO 23/07/2026 Author: John Trainer, Head of Children and Justice Social Work/Chief Social Work Officer