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<p>The latest figures show that the number of children who were placed outside the
boundary of the local authority responsible for their safety and wellbeing at the
31 March 2018 was 30,670, or 41% of all looked-after children. These figures were
published in table A5 of the statistical release ‘Children looked after in England
including adoption: 2017 to 2018’ at: <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>The
department does not collect information on the distance in miles between the placement
of a child and the boundary edge of the local authority. The department does collect,
however, two separate pieces of information in relation to placement location; the
distance the child is placed away from their home postcode and whether the placement
is located inside or outside their responsible local authority. The number of looked-after
children placed outside their local authority boundary and more than 50 miles from
their home was 5,380 (or 7% of all looked-after children) at 31 March 2018. There
were 2,080 children (or 3% of all looked-after children) placed more than 100 miles
from their home and outside their local authority boundary. These figures exclude
children where the distance of the placement is unknown.</p><p>We want to reduce out
of area placements, but they will always be part of the care landscape. Sometimes
local authorities have to identify a placement outside of the child’s local area to
disrupt gang violence, trafficking or sexual exploitation or where specialist provision
is needed.</p><p>In recent years government has also increasingly asked local authorities
to consider boarding as an option for looked-after children if it may be suitable
for them and in some instances this may mean children are placed outside of their
local authority area.</p>
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