Summary statistics on children in care and children adopted from care, and searching for birth relatives in Wales.
On this page:
> Children in public care
> Placements
> Adoption Orders
> Adoption from Care
> Adoptions Search and Reunion
> Sources
Children in public care
- 4,640 children were in the care of local authorities on 31st March 2007
- 1,535 children started to be looked after during the year ending 31st March 2007
- 1,415 children ceased to be looked after during the year ending 31st March 2007
Gender
- 54.2% (2,515) of children looked after on 31st March 2006 were boys and 45.8% (2,125) were girls
Age
- 4.1% (190) of children looked after on 31st March 2007 were under 1 year old
- 17.3% (805) were aged between 1 and 4 years old
- 22.0% (1,020) were aged between 5 and 9 years old
- 42.2% (1,960) were aged between 10 and 15 years old
- 14.3% (665) were aged 16 and over
Ethnicity
- 86.9% (4030) of children looked after on 31st March 2007 were white
- 2.5% (115) were of mixed racial background
- 0.5% (25) were Black or Black British
- 0.9% (40) were Asian or Asian British
- 0.9% (40) were from other ethnic groups
- 8.4% (390) were of unknown ethnic origin
Placements
- 74.7% (3,465) of children looked after on 31st March 2007 were living with foster carers
- 11.3% (525) were living with their parents or family
- 4.8% (225) were living in residential placements
- 5.1% (235) were placed for adoption
Private Fostering
- 43 children were known to be living under private fostering arrangements at 31st March 2007
- 44 new private fostering arrangements began and 16 ended during the year ending 31st March 2007
Adoption Orders
Figures on adoption orders apply to adoptions by relatives and step-parents as well as adoptions from care.
- 5,681 adoption orders were made in England and Wales during 2002
- 4,821 adoption orders were made in England and Wales during 2003
- 5,525 adoption orders were made in England and Wales during 2004
Adoptions from Care
225 children were adopted from care during the year ending 31st March 2007
Gender
52% (118) of children adopted during the year ending 31st March 2007 were boys and 48% (107) were girls
Age
The average age at adoption in the year ending 31st March 2007 was 3 years 11 months
- 1% (3) of children adopted was under 1 year old
- 69% (155) were aged between 1 and 4 years old
- 28% (63) were aged between 5 and 9 years old
- 2% (4) were aged between 10 and 15 years old
Waiting times
For children adopted during the year ending 31st March 2007:
- The average time between entry into care and adoption was 2 years 7 months
- The average time between the best interest decision and adoption was 1 year 7 months
Foster Carer Adoptions
15% (33) of children adopted from care in the year ending March 31st 2007 were adopted by foster carers
Adoption Search and Reunion
The Adoption Contact Register for England and Wales
At 30th June 2001, there were 19,683 adoptees and 8,492 relatives on the Adoption Register for England and Wales, and 539 successful matches have been made since the start of the Adoption Register in 1991.
Source: Population Trends 106, Winter 2001
http://www.statistics.gov.ukf
Sources:
Social Services Statistics Wales 2006–07
http://www.dataunitwales.gov.uk
Adoptions 1974-2004, Numbers of adoption orders by date of entry in the Adopted Children Register, by sex and whether the adopted child born inside/outside marriage
http://www.statistics.gov.uk
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