Our data
Trends over time
Cafcass private law and public law demand statistics are published on the tenth working day of each month. If you have any queries about the statistics, please contact us via our website form.
1 April 2024 – 28 February 2025
Headline findings
- In February 2025 Cafcass received 4,643 new children's cases (6,646 children)
- The average daily demand level in February 2025 was 232 children's cases per working day compared to 232 children's cases received per working day during February 2024
- The number of open outstanding children's cases at the end of February 2025 is at 27,492 children's cases, this is -9.0% / -2,705 children's cases (-5,134 children) compared to February 2024
- There are currently 43,704 children on open children's cases
For the financial year to date (April 2024 - 28 February 2025), the main changes are:
- A decrease in total case demand (-0.4% / -201 children's cases / -1,438 children compared to the same period last year)
- An increase in public law children's cases (+1.4% / +208 children's cases / +1 child)
- A decrease in private law children's cases (-1.1% / -409 children's cases / -1,439 children)
Public law children’s cases (Financial year: 1 April 2024 – 28 February 2025)
Between 1 April 2024 and 28 February 2025, Cafcass received 14,836 new public law children’s cases, involving 23,625 children.
S31 Care Applications (Financial year: 1 April 2024 – 28 February 2025)
Between 1 April 2024 and 28 February 2025, Cafcass received 10,488 new S31 Care Applications, involving 17,153 children.
S31 care applications have increased by 0.3% (+36 applications) compared to the same period last year with a decrease in children involved (-51 children) received between 1 April 2024 and 28 February 2025.
Please note that applications include those made on existing children’s cases as well as new public law children’s cases received in the period.
Our public law data shows regularly updated statistics covering both national and local trends for:
- the total number of public law cases
- the number of care order applications made by local authorities and the number of children involved (monthly)
- the length of time taken to complete care and supervision proceedings (quarterly)
- number of care order applications by local authorities in England (quarterly)
- the rate of care order applications per ten thousand children population by local authorities in England (annually).
View our public law demand spreadsheet, which includes open children’s cases as well as the number of children subject to S31 Care applications per 10,000 population.
Private law children’s cases (Financial Year: 1 April 2024 – 28 February 2025)
Between 1 April 2024 and 28 February 2025, Cafcass received 35,717 new private law children’s cases, involving 53,721 children.
Private law demand is generally used to refer to applications made following a divorce or separation about the arrangements for children, such as where a child will live or with whom a child will spend time.
View our private law demand spreadsheet, which includes open children’s cases.
Open children’s cases (February 2025 snapshot)
Open children’s cases have decreased in comparison to February 2024. There are currently 27,492 open children’s cases. This is -2,705 children's cases (-9.0%) than the same time last year. These children’s cases involve 43,704 children, which is –5,134 fewer children (-10.5%) compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 11,162 open public law children's cases at the end of February 2025, involving 19,551 children. This is -650 (-5.5%) children's cases and 1,368 (-6.5%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 16,330 open private law children's cases at the end of February 2025, involving 24,153 children. This is –2,055 (-11.2%) children's cases and 3,766 (-13.5%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.