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 2025 – 31 October 2025
Headline findings
In October 2025 Cafcass received 5,471 new children's cases (8,411 children)
The average daily demand level in October 2025 was 238 children's cases per working day compared to 221 children's cases received per working day during October 2024.
The number of open outstanding children's cases at the end of October 2025 was 27,566, this is -2.5% / -709 children's cases compared to October 2024. There are currently 44,050 children on open children's cases which is 1,784 (-3.9%) fewer than October 2024.
For the financial year to date (April 2025 - October 2025), the main changes are:
- An increase in total case demand (+4.4% / 1,439 children’s cases / +2,123 children compared to the same period last year)
- An increase in public law children's cases (+4.8% / 462 children’s cases / +835 children)
- An increase in private law children's cases (+4.2% / 977 children’s cases / +1,288 children)
Public law children’s cases (Financial year: 1 April 2025 – 31 October 2025)
Between 1 April 2025 and 31 October 2025, Cafcass received 10,069 new public law children’s cases, involving 16,149 children.
S31 Care Applications (Financial year: 1 April 2025 – 31 October 2025)
Between 1 April 2025 and 31 October 2025, Cafcass received 7,157 new S31 Care Applications, involving 11,780 children.
S31 care applications have increased by 6.4% (+432 applications) compared to the same period last year with an increase in children involved (+793 children).
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 2025 – 31 October 2025)
Between 1 April 2025 and 31 October 2025, Cafcass received 23,982 new private law children’s cases, involving 36,318 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 (October 2025 snapshot)
Open children’s cases have decreased in comparison to October 2024. There are currently 27,566 open children’s cases. This is -709 fewer children's cases (-2.5%) than the same time last year. These children’s cases involve 44,050 children, which is -1,784 fewer children (-3.9%) compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 11,225 open public law children's cases at the end of October 2025, involving 19,585 children. This is -148 (-1.3%) fewer children's cases and -272 (-1.4%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 16,341 open private law children's cases at the end of October 2025, involving 24,465 children. This is -561 (-3.3%) fewer children's cases and -1,512 (-5.8%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.