"Ninety children a day entered care in the last year, and councils saw the biggest annual increase of children in care since 2010. "
Responding to the Government’s vision on better outcomes for fostering and children’s social care, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:
"Looking after vulnerable children is one of the most important things that councils do. The care that children and young people receive can change lives and be the difference between a future where someone can fulfil their potential or not, which is why we are keen to work with the Department to implement the recommendations in this report, so that we can make sure this is the case for all children in care.
“However, councils are currently supporting record numbers of children and young people through the care system. Ninety children a day entered care in the last year, and councils saw the biggest annual increase of children in care since 2010. This is against a backdrop of unprecedented cuts to local authority budgets.
“While commitments in this response, in particular to support better commissioning and improve understanding of costs across different providers, will help to make sure available funding is spent in the best way possible, this will not plug the £3 billion funding gap facing children’s services by 2025. The Government urgently needs to commit to fully funding these services if it is serious about protecting children and young people and making sure they have the best possible experiences and opportunities.”