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<p>Information on the proportion of looked after children who ‘run away’ from homes
and hostels, not subject to children’s home regulations, is not collected and categorised
under this definition. The information that is collected is the number of looked after
children who go missing from residential homes or hostels not bound by children homes
regulations. The definition of ‘missing’ is defined as a looked after child who is
not at their placement or a place they are expected to be, such as a school, and their
whereabouts is not known.</p><p>The table presents the proportion of the number of
children who had been looked after at some point during this year in this same type
of placement. As these statistics are experimental statistics and based on data collected
for the first time in 2015, the figures are not comparable between years. Some authorities
have informed the department that they do not record any incidents as 'away without
authorisation' but instead report all incidents as 'missing' information. We estimate
that around 1 in 3 local authorities record this data this way. We will continue to
assess whether the figures are considered robust enough to be classed as national
statistics, rather than experimental.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><p><strong>Number
and percentage of children who went missing from residential homes<strong>[1]</strong>
not subject to Children's homes regulations<strong>[2]</strong> <strong>[3]</strong>
<strong>[4]</strong> </strong><strong>(Years ending 31 March 2015 to 2018)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>
</p></td><td><p><strong>All children looked after during the year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Children
who had a missing incident during the year<strong>[5]</strong></strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Percentage</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>4,690</p></td><td><p>1,460</p></td><td><p>31</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>4,310</p></td><td><p>1,170</p></td><td><p>27</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>3,970</p></td><td><p>840</p></td><td><p>21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>3,000</p></td><td><p>440</p></td><td><p>15</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>The information provided does not mean that the number of children going missing
is increasing in the volumes indicated in the table. All figures on the overall number
of children who were looked after during the year - who were missing are still classified
as experimental statistics. This is the fourth year these statistics have been collected
in this way, and local authorities have reported some variation over recent years
in how these incidents are recorded.</p><p>For more information, the latest national
figures on looked after children who go missing and the number of incidents are published
in Table G1 of the statistical release, Children looked after in England including
adoption: 2017 to 2018, which is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2017-to-2018"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2017-to-2018</a>.</p><p>1.
Residential accommodation not subject to the Children’s Homes Regulations, but where
some supervisory or advice staff are employed (although they do not have to live on
the premises). This placement code includes hostels, foyers, YMCAs. Also includes
lodgings, flats and bedsits where supervisory staff or advice workers are specifically
employed and available to provide advice and support to the residents.</p><p>2. Missing
is defined as a looked after child who is not at their placement or a place they are
expected to be (e.g. school) and their whereabouts is not known.</p><p>3. Numbers
have been rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages have been rounded to the nearest
whole number. See the looked after children statistics guide for more information
on rounding.</p><p>4. Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series
of short-term placements.</p><p>5. Includes children who were missing on 1 April,
therefore carried over from previous years. Some very young looked after children
may go missing with their mothers who may well be looked after themselves.</p><p>
</p>
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