This annual release contains statistics on children in need in England and referrals to and assessments completed by children’s social care services. Each reporting year covers the year ending 31 March. 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 and disabled children. Key findings show:

• Over 400,000 children were classed as in need (around 1 in every 30 children) and nearly 50,000 children were on protection plans (around 1 in every 250 children or 1 in every 8 children in need).
• Although the associated rate (per 10,000 children) fell for the third consecutive year, following a rise in 2022 when COVID-19 restrictions on school attendance were lifted (see referrals section for more information), the number of children in need increased from 2024. The number of referrals and completed assessments also rose from 2024.
• The number and rate of children on protection plans fell for the third consecutive year, representing the lowest figures since 2014 and 2013 respectively.

All the headline measures were lower than 2020 (which mostly pre-dates the COVID-19 pandemic in England), except for the number and rate of children in need.