Accredited official statistics
Children in need: 2024 to 2025
Annual statistics on children in need in England, including referrals to and assessments completed by children’s social care services.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Children in need are a legally defined group of children under the Children Act 1989, assessed as needing help and protection as a result of risks to their development or health.
This group includes:
- those on child-in-need plans
- those on child protection plans
- children looked after by local authorities
- care leavers
- disabled children
Children in need also include unborn children and young people aged 18 or over who continue to receive care, accommodation or support from children’s services.
Updates to this page
Published 30 October 2025