Children's Social Work Statistics: Looked After Children - 2024-25
Looked After Children Statistics for Scotland for 2024-25 that cover data on children who are looked after, young people in continuing care, and young people eligible for aftercare services.
Aftercare
Aftercare refers to the advice, guidance and assistance provided to care leavers under section 29 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) 1995 Act. Please see background notes for eligibility criteria.
Eligibility for aftercare
On 31 July 2025, 4,545 were receiving aftercare services – a 2% increase from 4,459 receiving services in 2024. 9,386 young people were eligible for aftercare services – a 8% increase from a revised estimate of 8,680 eligible in 2024 (Table 15). Almost half of those eligible (48%) were receiving aftercare services compared to a revised estimate of 51% in 2024.
Table 15 Number and percentage of young people eligible for and receiving aftercare services by age, 31 July 2025 [Note 1]
| Status | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19-21 | 22+ | Total | Percentage change since previous year |
| Number in receipt of aftercare | 88 | 269 | 620 | 1,816 | 1,752 | 4,545 | 2% |
| Number not in receipt of aftercare | 92 | 248 | 422 | 1,537 | 2,542 | 4,841 | 15% |
| Total eligible for aftercare[1] | 180 | 517 | 1,042 | 3,353 | 4,294 | 9,386 | 8% |
| Percentage in receipt of aftercare | 49% | 52% | 60% | 54% | 41% | 48% | |
| Percentage not in receipt of aftercare | 51% | 48% | 40% | 46% | 59% | 52% | |
| Total eligible for aftercare | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
[Note 1] The number eligible for aftercare in 2024-25 is estimated based on data received on: number of eligible needs assessments in 2024-25, where an eligible need was identified; number eligible for aftercare recorded in 2023-24, where the young person is still within the age criteria for aftercare in 2024-25; number of care leavers in 2024-25 within the compulsory age criteria for aftercare, not looked after or in continuing care as at 31 July 2025; and young people otherwise included in the Care Leavers return as eligible for aftercare. Young people are counted only once within this estimate, where they meet more than one of these eligibility criteria.
Chart 4 Number of young people eligible and receiving aftercare services on 31 July 2009-2025 [Note 1]
[Note 1] The number eligible for aftercare in 2024-25 is estimated based on data received on: number of eligible needs assessments in 2024-25, where an eligible need was identified; number eligible for aftercare recorded in 2023-24, where the young person is still within the age criteria for aftercare in 2024-25; number of care leavers in 2024-25 within the compulsory age criteria for aftercare, not looked after or in continuing care as at 31 July 2025; and young people otherwise included in the Care Leavers return as eligible for aftercare. Young people are counted only once within this estimate, where they meet more than one of these eligibility criteria.
Aftercare and economic activity
Of the 3,634 young people in aftercare from whom economic status is known, 1,951 of them were in education, training or employment (Table 16). This is 54% of young people in aftercare where their economic status is known. Of these, 401 were in higher education, 785 were in education other than higher education and 765 were in training or employment. 1,683 young people were not in education, training or employment. This is a similar proportion to 2024, where 2,049 young people were in education, training or employment (54%).
Table 16 Number of young people receiving aftercare services by sex and economic activity, 31 July 2025 [Note 1], [Note 2]
| Economic activity category | Economic activity | Female | Male | Total |
| In education, training or employment | In higher education | 203 | 195 | 401 |
| In education, training or employment | In education other than HE | 280 | 503 | 785 |
| In education, training or employment | In training or employment | 317 | 447 | 765 |
| In education, training or employment | Total | 800 | 1,145 | 1,951 |
| Not in education, training or employment | Due to short term illness | 16 | 23 | 39 |
| Not in education, training or employment | Due to long term illness or disability | 103 | 149 | 252 |
| Not in education, training or employment | Due to looking after family | 100 | 13 | 113 |
| Not in education, training or employment | Due to other circumstances | 454 | 822 | 1,279 |
| Not in education, training or employment | Total | 673 | 1,007 | 1,683 |
| Not known | Not known | 304 | 607 | 911 |
| Total | n/a | 1,777 | 2,759 | 4,545 |
| Percentage | n/a | 39% | 61% | 100% |
| Scotland Percentage [Note 1] | n/a | 50% | 50% | 100% |
| Percentage in education, training or employment as a percentage of all young people receiving aftercare ("Total") | 45% | 42% | 43% | |
| Percentage in education, training or employment as a percentage where information on economic activity is available ("Total" excluding "Not Known") | 54% | 53% | 54% |
[Note 1] Scotland percentages refer to males and females aged 16 to 26 based on mid-2024 NRS population estimates in line with eligibility criteria for aftercare support.
[Note 2] Where Male or Female sex is not specified, young people are included in the "Total" column.
Contact
Email: childrens.statistics@gov.scot