Our data

• There has been an overall longer-term reduction in new applications for public and private proceedings following the Covid-19 pandemic that started in March 2020.  

• Between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 Cafcass received 55,830 new children's cases in 2023/24 involving 86,419 children. This is 10.3% (-6,378 children’s case / -10,711 children) lower than five years ago (2018/19). 

• Cafcass continues to support a higher number of children annually. The organisation worked with 137,347 children on new or existing proceedings in 2023/24 compared to 133,850 five years ago (2018/19), an increase of 2.6% (3,497) children. 

• More than two thirds (67.3%) of children we worked with are involved in private law proceedings and slightly lower than one third (32.7%) are involved in public law proceedings.  

• The considerable pressure on the family courts means children and families continue to be in proceedings for longer since the Covid-19 pandemic. We produce quarterly data for the length of time we work with children and families in public law Section 31 proceedings.  

• The latest available figures indicate that on average Cafcass’ involvement in S31 applications (Care and Supervision) in Quarter 4 (1 January – 31 March 2024) took 43 weeks to conclude. In the same period last year (1 January to 31 March 2023) the average duration of Cafcass’ involvement in these cases was 47 weeks.  

• In May 2024 Cafcass received 4,773 new children's cases (7,321 children)  

•  The average daily demand level in May 2024 was 227 children's cases per working day compared to 229 children's cases received per working day during May 2023 

•  At the end of May 2024 there were 29,819 open outstanding children's cases (29,819 children's cases); this is 6.7% / -2,142 fewer children's cases compared to the end of May 2023. There are currently 48,528 children on open children's cases. 

• An increase in total case demand (+11.7% / +997 children's cases compared to the same period last year) 

•  An increase in public law children's cases (+11.7% / +284 children's cases)  

•  An increase in private law children's cases (+11.7% / +713 children's cases) 

•  Between 1 April 2024 and 31 May 2024 there were 42 working days compared to 38 for the same period in 2023 which impacts the current year to date demand comparison. 

•  For clarity, this financial year to date (1 April – 31 May 2024) the average daily demand was 227 children’s case per working day compared to 225 per working day for the same period in 2023 (an average of 1% higher). 

Between 1 April 2024 and 31 May 2024, Cafcass received 1,887 new S31 Care Applications, involving 3,107 children. 

There has been an increase of 166 S31 care applications compared to the same period last year (+9.6%) and represents an increase of 250 children on total applications received during the financial year.  

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). 

Between 1 April 2024 and 31 May 2024, Cafcass received 6,822 new private law children’s cases, involving 10,342 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. 

There are currently 29,819 open children’s cases. This is 2,142 fewer children's cases (-6.7%) than the same time last year. These children’s cases involve 48,528 children, which is 3,748 (-7.2%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.  

Open children’s cases have decreased in comparison to the end of the previous financial year. Cafcass had 11,638 open public law children's cases at the end of May 2024, involving 20,655 children. This is -954 (-7.6%) fewer children's cases and 1,934 (-8.6%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.  

Cafcass had 18,181 open private law children's cases at the end of May 2024, involving 27,873 children. This is 1,188 (-6.1%) fewer children's cases and 1,814 (-6.1%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.