Council spending on children in care in England set to rise

The Department for Education has published figures that show local authorities in England will increase spending on children in care in 2018/19, with a rise of £370.1m compared to the previous year.

The figures correspond with an increase in the number of children taken into care, with 72,670 recorded at the end of March 2017, compared with 70,440 in 2016, and 69,480 in 2015.

The total spend on children in care in England in 2018/19 is expected to reach £4.61bn.

The UK Government intends to test new ways of tackling the rise of children in care through the What Works Centre for Children's Social Care, an initiative commissioned by the Department for Education that aims to use evidence to pursue better outcomes for children, young people and families.