Amber Dellar
@amberdellar.bsky.social
Researcher, public services @instituteforgovernment.org.uk. Focusing on schools and local government, particularly children's social care and homelessness. She/her
I go into more detail on the issue - including what the Labour government plans to do about it - in our recent Performance Tracker report
Performance Tracker 2025: Children's social care | Institute for Government
Care costs are rising without outcomes improving in step. The government’s reform agenda is promising, but relies on more joined-up public services.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 11:43 AM
I go into more detail on the issue - including what the Labour government plans to do about it - in our recent Performance Tracker report
So while this advert from Cornwall might be shocking, it represents a much deeper problem affecting pretty much every council and many children in care with very complex needs
And it's far from an inevitable situation. As Lady Arden wrote in a Supreme Court judgment in 2021 👇
And it's far from an inevitable situation. As Lady Arden wrote in a Supreme Court judgment in 2021 👇
November 13, 2025 at 11:43 AM
So while this advert from Cornwall might be shocking, it represents a much deeper problem affecting pretty much every council and many children in care with very complex needs
And it's far from an inevitable situation. As Lady Arden wrote in a Supreme Court judgment in 2021 👇
And it's far from an inevitable situation. As Lady Arden wrote in a Supreme Court judgment in 2021 👇
This problem appears to have been getting worse. Deprivation of liberty orders (or DoLs) are often used to put children in unregistered, unlawful homes, when there are no other options
There's been more than a sixfold increase in DoL applications since 2018
There's been more than a sixfold increase in DoL applications since 2018
November 13, 2025 at 11:43 AM
This problem appears to have been getting worse. Deprivation of liberty orders (or DoLs) are often used to put children in unregistered, unlawful homes, when there are no other options
There's been more than a sixfold increase in DoL applications since 2018
There's been more than a sixfold increase in DoL applications since 2018
England has a chronic shortage of suitable placements for children with the most complex needs.
Councils often turn to unregistered settings because they simply have nowhere else to place a child. These are unlawful, lack Ofsted oversight to ensure minimum standards and are often of poor quality
Councils often turn to unregistered settings because they simply have nowhere else to place a child. These are unlawful, lack Ofsted oversight to ensure minimum standards and are often of poor quality
November 13, 2025 at 11:43 AM
England has a chronic shortage of suitable placements for children with the most complex needs.
Councils often turn to unregistered settings because they simply have nowhere else to place a child. These are unlawful, lack Ofsted oversight to ensure minimum standards and are often of poor quality
Councils often turn to unregistered settings because they simply have nowhere else to place a child. These are unlawful, lack Ofsted oversight to ensure minimum standards and are often of poor quality
I go into more detail on the issue - including what the Labour government plans to do on it - in our recent Performance Tracker report
Performance Tracker 2025: Children's social care | Institute for Government
Care costs are rising without outcomes improving in step. The government’s reform agenda is promising, but relies on more joined-up public services.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 11:26 AM
I go into more detail on the issue - including what the Labour government plans to do on it - in our recent Performance Tracker report
So while this advert from Cornwall might be shocking, it represents a much deeper problem affecting pretty much every council and child with very complex needs
And it's far from an inevitable situation. As Lady Arden wrote in a Supreme Court judgment in 2021 👇
And it's far from an inevitable situation. As Lady Arden wrote in a Supreme Court judgment in 2021 👇
November 13, 2025 at 11:26 AM
So while this advert from Cornwall might be shocking, it represents a much deeper problem affecting pretty much every council and child with very complex needs
And it's far from an inevitable situation. As Lady Arden wrote in a Supreme Court judgment in 2021 👇
And it's far from an inevitable situation. As Lady Arden wrote in a Supreme Court judgment in 2021 👇
Now they massively outnumber applications for secure accommodation (specialist provision).
The length of waiting lists for that accommodation - around 50 children wait for a place every day - has likely deterred local authorities from making applications, instead turning to DoLs and unlawful homes
The length of waiting lists for that accommodation - around 50 children wait for a place every day - has likely deterred local authorities from making applications, instead turning to DoLs and unlawful homes
November 13, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Now they massively outnumber applications for secure accommodation (specialist provision).
The length of waiting lists for that accommodation - around 50 children wait for a place every day - has likely deterred local authorities from making applications, instead turning to DoLs and unlawful homes
The length of waiting lists for that accommodation - around 50 children wait for a place every day - has likely deterred local authorities from making applications, instead turning to DoLs and unlawful homes
This problem appears to have been getting worse. Deprivation of liberty orders (or DoLs) are often used to put children in unregistered, unlawful homes, when there are no other options
There's been more than a sixfold increase in DoL applications since 2018
There's been more than a sixfold increase in DoL applications since 2018
November 13, 2025 at 11:26 AM
This problem appears to have been getting worse. Deprivation of liberty orders (or DoLs) are often used to put children in unregistered, unlawful homes, when there are no other options
There's been more than a sixfold increase in DoL applications since 2018
There's been more than a sixfold increase in DoL applications since 2018
England has a chronic shortage of suitable placements for children with the most complex needs.
Councils often turn to unregistered settings because they simply have nowhere else to place a child. These are unlawful, lack Ofsted oversight to ensure minimum standards and are often of poor quality
Councils often turn to unregistered settings because they simply have nowhere else to place a child. These are unlawful, lack Ofsted oversight to ensure minimum standards and are often of poor quality
November 13, 2025 at 11:26 AM
England has a chronic shortage of suitable placements for children with the most complex needs.
Councils often turn to unregistered settings because they simply have nowhere else to place a child. These are unlawful, lack Ofsted oversight to ensure minimum standards and are often of poor quality
Councils often turn to unregistered settings because they simply have nowhere else to place a child. These are unlawful, lack Ofsted oversight to ensure minimum standards and are often of poor quality
So... the govt has unclear plans on tackling workforce shortages, the SEND crisis, and how progress on the opportunity mission will be measured in schools.
Unfortunately for the government, what *is* clear is that balancing these pressures will be extremely difficult within its budget.
Unfortunately for the government, what *is* clear is that balancing these pressures will be extremely difficult within its budget.
Performance Tracker 2025: Schools | Institute for Government
It will be extremely difficult for the government to meet its education priorities within the budget it has set for the coming parliament.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 9:57 AM
So... the govt has unclear plans on tackling workforce shortages, the SEND crisis, and how progress on the opportunity mission will be measured in schools.
Unfortunately for the government, what *is* clear is that balancing these pressures will be extremely difficult within its budget.
Unfortunately for the government, what *is* clear is that balancing these pressures will be extremely difficult within its budget.
And suspensions have increased most sharply among pupils living in the poorest areas.
In 2023–24, they were 10 times more common among pupils living in the most deprived areas than among those in the least deprived areas.
In 2023–24, they were 10 times more common among pupils living in the most deprived areas than among those in the least deprived areas.
November 6, 2025 at 9:57 AM
And suspensions have increased most sharply among pupils living in the poorest areas.
In 2023–24, they were 10 times more common among pupils living in the most deprived areas than among those in the least deprived areas.
In 2023–24, they were 10 times more common among pupils living in the most deprived areas than among those in the least deprived areas.
6️⃣ Educational inequalities – especially for children from low-income backgrounds and with special educational needs –are growing.
Children with EHCPs are now twice as likely to be absent from school as peers without SEN.
In some areas, they miss a full day of secondary school each week.
Children with EHCPs are now twice as likely to be absent from school as peers without SEN.
In some areas, they miss a full day of secondary school each week.
November 6, 2025 at 9:57 AM
6️⃣ Educational inequalities – especially for children from low-income backgrounds and with special educational needs –are growing.
Children with EHCPs are now twice as likely to be absent from school as peers without SEN.
In some areas, they miss a full day of secondary school each week.
Children with EHCPs are now twice as likely to be absent from school as peers without SEN.
In some areas, they miss a full day of secondary school each week.