The Department of Education released its most recent statistics, which indicate that in the year ending March 31, 2023, 225,400 investigations were conducted in England to determine if a child was at risk of suffering serious injury.
That corresponds to an average of 617 every day, the greatest total since data started to be collected in 2019, when there were 66 less a day.
With 217,800 in 2022 – 596 a day – the number is also higher than in the previous year. Numbers fell decreasing during the 2020-2021 COVID years.
If there is a good reason to suspect a child, assessments must be conducted by local authorities.
The federal government provides councils with a budget for child social care, but because they are legally required to provide the service, many of them are forced to spend more and divert funds from other important areas.
The Local Government Association (LGA), which is the voice of all English and Welsh councils, is pleading with Chancellor Rachel Reeves to use the 2019 budget to ensure that councils have enough money and resources to handle the increasing number of vulnerable children who need support.
