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Characteristics of children in need: 2013 to 2014

© Copyright LexisNexis 2025. All rights reserved.
Date:29 OCT 2014
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Jonathan Cailes
Senior Editor
The Department for Education has published information on children referred to and assessed by children's social services between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014.

This publication includes information on:
  • referrals to, and children in need of, social services;
  • assessments undertaken and primary need identified at assessment;
  • section 47 enquires and initial child protection conferences; and
  • children who were the subject of a child protection plan.
Key statistics include:




657,800 		The number of referrals to children’s social care in 2013-14 – an increase of 10.8% compared to the previous year when there were 593,500 referrals. Data collected for the first time, on the source of referrals, shows that nearly a quarter of referrals were from the police.
397,600 The number of children in need at 31 March 2014 – an increase of 5.0% from 378,600 at 31 March 2013, although the longer-term time series does fluctuate.
47.2% The proportion of children in need with abuse or neglect identified as their primary need. This is the most common primary need, followed by family dysfunction at 18.6%. This has remained broadly similar to the previous year.
142,500 The number of section 47 enquiries carried out in 2013-14. An increase of 12.1% on 127,100 last year.
48,300 The number of children who were the subject of a child protection plan at 31 March 2014. An increase of 12.1% on 43,100 at 31 March 2013 and an increase of 23.5% since 31 March 2010.

Click here to view 'Characteristics of children in need in England, 2013-14'.

Click here to view the national and local authority tables.

Click here to view the methodology document.

Click here to view the data quality and uses document.
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