England Facts and Statistics

Children in public care

  • 61,100 children were in the care of local authorities on March 31, 2004

  • 24,600 children started to be looked after during the year ending March 31, 2004

  • 25,300 children ceased to be looked after during the year ending March 31, 2004

    Gender
    55% (33,900) of children looked after on March 31 2004 were boys and 45% (27,200) were girls

    Age

  • 4% (2,600) of children looked after on March 31, 2004 were under 1 year old

  • 36% (21,700) were aged between 1 and 9 years old

  • 43% (26,500) were aged between 10 and 15 years old

  • 16% (10,400) were aged 16 and over

    Ethnicity
    80% (48,800) of children looked after on March 31, 2004 were white and 20% (12,400) were from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds


    Adoption

  • 5,680 adoption orders were made in England and Wales during 2002

  • 5,000 (approx) adoption orders were made in England in the year ending March 2003

  • 3,700 children were adopted from care during the year ending March 31, 2004

  • 510 children were adopted by their foster carers during the year ending March 31, 2004

    Gender
    55% (33,900) of children adopted during the year ending March 31, 2004 were boys and 45% (27,200) were girls

    Waiting times
    For children adopted during the year ending March 31, 2004:

  • The average time between entry into care and date of best interest decision was 1 year 0 months

  • The average time between best interest decision and matching of child and adopters was 7 months

  • The average time between matching and placing for adoption was 1 month

  • The average time between placing for adoption and date of adoption was 1 year 0 months

  • The average time between entry into care and adoption was 2 years 8 months

  • 79% (2,900) children were adopted within 12 months of best interest decision during the year ending March 31, 2004


    Adoption Search and Reunion

    The Adoption Contact Register for England and Wales

    At 30th June 2001, there were 19,683 adoptees and 8,492 relatives on the Adoption Contact Register for England and Wales, and 539 successful matches have been made since the start of the Adoption Register in 1991.

    Source: BAAF - www.baaf.co.uk


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