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<p>Whilst the number of looked after children has increased steadily over the last
nine years, the proportions of children placed in foster care (74%) and in residential
care (11%) remain similar to previous years. We cannot ascertain, however, whether
there is a shortfall of carers in certain parts of England. Data on children looked
after in England can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2016-to-2017"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2016-to-2017</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>The department is carefully considering how to support local authorities and
fostering agencies to improve the recruitment and retention of foster parents as it
develops the government’s response to ‘Foster Care in England’ (attached) the independent
review into the fostering system, and the report from the Education Select Committee’s
inquiry into fostering (attached).</p><p> </p><p>The department is working with Boarding
Schools Partnerships to encourage more local authorities to consider boarding for
children in or at risk of going into care, where it might be the right support for
them. There are few more vulnerable groups of children in England and the department
is focused on enabling them to succeed in life.</p><p> </p>
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