Freedom of information response

Looked After Children

Publication date: 
Tuesday 13 June 2023
Request: 

1. The current total number of children in care (also known as "Looked After

Children") your local authority is responsible for.

2. The current total number of children in care (also known as "Looked After

Children") your local authority is responsible for per 10,000 of the child population in your area.

3. The number of children in care that your local authority is responsible for that are attending:

a) Mainstream state education (including academies, free schools and maintained schools)?

b) Independent boarding schools?

c) Pupil Referral Units (also known as "alternative provision")?

4. The number of children in care that your local authority is responsible for that are currently placed in children's homes.

5. The number of children in care that your local authority is responsible for that are currently placed in children's homes that are

attending:

a) Mainstream state education (including academies, free schools and maintained schools)?

b) Independent boarding schools?

c) Pupil Referral Units (also known as "alternative provision")?

Response: 

 1. The current total number of children in care (also known as "Looked After

Children") your local authority is responsible for.

  • As of the 31st March 2023 there were 292 children looked after by Thurrock Council

2. The current total number of children in care (also known as "Looked After

Children") your local authority is responsible for per 10,000 of the child population in your area.

  • As of the 31st March 2023 rate of CLA per 10,000 was 64.3

3. The number of children in care that your local authority is responsible for that are attending:

a) Mainstream state education (including academies, free schools and maintained schools)? - 142

b) Independent boarding schools?  - 7 (SEND provision)

c) Pupil Referral Units (also known as "alternative provision")?  - Fewer than 5

4. The number of children in care that your local authority is responsible for that are currently placed in children's homes.

  • As of the 31st March 2023 19 children were placed in registered children’s homes

5. The number of children in care that your local authority is responsible for that are currently placed in children's homes that are

attending:

a) Mainstream state education (including academies, free schools and maintained schools)? 6

b) Independent boarding schools? 9

c) Pupil Referral Units (also known as "alternative provision")? – Fewer than 5

We are unable to provide an exact number for questions above as:

  • There is a low number involved.
  • The release of this information could identify individuals which would constitute their personal data under the Data Protection Act
  • There is no prior expectation on the part of these individuals that their personal information would be published in the wider public domain under the FOI Act
  • Personal data of any other person is exempt under section 40 (2) of the Data Protection Act.

However in the interests of transparency we are able to provide this information to you categorised as fewer than 5 to give you an indication of the figures

You are free to use any information supplied to you for your own use, including non-commercial research purposes. However, any other type of re-use, for example, by publishing the information or issuing copies to the public will require the permission of the copyright owner.

Where the copyright is owned by Thurrock Council, you must apply to the Council to re-use the information. Please email information.matters@thurrock.gov.uk if you wish to re-use the information you have been supplied. For information where the copyright is owned by another person or organisation, you must apply to the copyright owner to obtain their permission.

If you are dissatisfied with the way in which the council have managed your FOI request you can pursue an Internal Review by contacting us using the above email address. An internal review must be submitted within 40 working days of your original reply. Your request will be considered by a senior member of the Information Management Team who will update you with the outcome of the review.

If you remain unhappy following the outcome of your Internal Review you may wish to refer your case to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and details of this organisation can be found at www.ico.org.uk . Please be advised that the ICO will not consider your case until they have confirmation that you have already been through the Internal Review stage with the council.

Request reference:
FOI 12819