The government’s latest inquiry into children’s social care is holding its first session today.

The Education Committee’s inquiry into the children’s social care sector in England is looking at why there are so many children in care.

This follows an ongoing rise in the number of children being dragged into the care system, which has left many local authorities at breaking point. The vast numbers of children inside the care system is costing the government billions, which is the driver behind this inquiry.

The committee will be putting questions to academics and charity managers from 10am. Contributors include:

Will McMahon, Project Worker at Care Leavers’ Association;

Lynn Perry, Chief Executive at Barnardo’s;

Katharine Sacks-Jones, Chief Executive at Become charity;

Dinithi Wijedasa, Associate Professor at Bristol University;

June Thoburn, Professor at University of East Anglia; and

Dr Ray Jones, Professor at Kingston University.

This is the blurb for the session, which has been added to the committee’s section on the Parliament website:

Government data shows that the number of children receiving support from local authorities’ children’s services in 2023 was 7.3% higher than in 2010, albeit 0.3% down from 2022. The number of children on child protection plans is at 50,780 – an increase of 29.9% from 2010, but a decrease of 0.3% from 2022. The most recent data on looked-after children, including adoptions, shows a 27.5% increase since 2010, now at 83,840 children. 

Evidence from Barnardo’s – which is among the organisations giving evidence to the Committee – has said the number of children in residential care has increased by 79% since 2010-11. 

The cross-party Committee will question witnesses on the reasons for the sharp rises, the effect this is having on local authorities and young people, and how the trends could be reversed. 

MPs will ask about the increase in children being placed outside of their local area, even outside of their region, due to the scarcity of accommodation and specialist provision in some parts of the country. The charity Become has provided evidence to the inquiry with examples of children being relocated over 500 miles from home. There may also be questions about the practice of housing unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels. 

This inquiry will scrutinise the Government’s Stable Homes, Built on Love strategy, which renewed focus on early intervention. The Local Government Association reported that spend on early intervention services has fallen by 46% since 2010-11, with funds diverted to child protection and in-care services. 

The Committee will likely hear how educational, employment and wellbeing outcomes for children who have experienced the care system could be improved. 38% of care leavers aged 19-21 are not in education, employment or training, compared to 11% of all young people in that age group. Care leavers are also more likely to become homeless, die prematurely, enter the criminal justice system and experience mental health problems.

Different types of care will also be investigated in this session, with a focus on how outcomes may vary between foster care, adoption, residential care and kinship care. The latter, where a child is placed with a relative or close family friend, has been promoted by the Government as part of its Stable Homes, Built on Love strategy. MPs will also ask witnesses to explain how children can end up in the form of care that suits them best, and how these approaches may vary in other countries. 

Anyone who would like to attend in person can go to Room 15 in the Palace of Westminster to watch the session. Please call the helpline to check the event is open to the public before you travel.

The session can also be watched remotely on Parliament TV.