The main findings include:
- At 31 st March 2007 there were 14,060 children looked after by local authorities, an increase of eight per cent since 2006. The number of children looked after has increased by 26 per cent since 1999.
- Forty three per cent of children looked after were placed at home with parents, and 15 per cent were looked after by friends or relatives. Twenty nine per cent were looked after by foster carers. Twelve per cent were in residential accommodation.
- At 31 st March 2007 there were 2,159 children being looked after on a series of short term placements. Almost half of all these were looked after in residential establishments.