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Ofsted's latest annual statistics show continued growth in England's children's social care sector, with increases in the number of children's homes, supported accommodation providers and residential family centres during 2025–26.
The annual Children's Social Care in England 2026 report found that the sector had grown to 6,700 providers by 31 March 2026, reflecting ongoing expansion in regulated provision for children and young people.
The most significant increase was seen in supported accommodation, where the number of registered providers rose by 37% during the year. An additional 330 providers were registered, with Ofsted reporting considerable variation in both the types of accommodation offered and the number of premises operated by individual organisations.
The number of children's homes also continued to increase. Ofsted reported a 20% rise in the number of children's homes compared with the previous year and said the total number of new homes has increased by 70% since March 2022.
The regulator noted that newly registered children's homes continue to be smaller than existing provision. Homes registered during 2025–26 had an average capacity of three places, compared with an average of four places in homes registered before the start of the inspection year.
Residential family centres also continued to expand, with the number of providers increasing by 6% compared with the previous year.
Despite the continued growth in provision, inspection outcomes remained broadly stable. Ofsted reported that the proportion of children's homes judged good or outstanding for both 'help and protection' and 'leadership and management' at full inspections during 2025–26 was consistent with the previous year's performance.
The report provides an overview of regulated children's social care provision in England, including provider numbers, registered places and inspection outcomes as at 31 March 2026.
Ofsted noted that around 402,000 of England's 12.2 million children are in the social care system at any one time, including children in need and those subject to child protection plans. Of these, almost 82,000 children are looked after.
The statistics also cover supported accommodation registrations and inspection outcomes for regulated children's social care providers published during the 2025–26 inspection year.
To read Ofsted's report in full, click here.
