Child protection plan statistics

England 2016-2020
Page 1 of 3

Child protection plan

statistics: England 2016-
2020
January 2021

Number of children who were the subject of a child protection plan at 31

March by category of abuse

Category of 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

abuse
Neglect 23,150 24,590 25,820 25,330 26,010
Physical abuse 4,200 3,950 4,120 4,170 3,820
Sexual abuse 2,370 2,260 2,180 2,230 1,970
Emotional abuse 17,770 17,280 18,860 18,460 18,380
Multiple 2,810 3,010 2,820 2,070 1,330
Total 50,310 51,080 53,790 52,260 51,510

Source:
Table D4 in Department for Education (2020) Characteristics of children in need in
England, 2019-20. London: Department for Education (DfE).

Available online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/characteristics-of-children-in-
need-2019-to-2020

Please note:
• the figures relate to the initial category of abuse assigned to the child
protection plan rather than the most recent category of abuse
• figures may not add due to rounding

nspcc.org.uk/learning learning@nspcc.org.uk

0116 234 7246 @NSPCCLearning

© NSPCC 2021. Registered charity England and Wales 216401. Scotland SC037717.
 Child protection plan statistics
England 2016-2020
Page 2 of 3

• these figures include unborn children

• the compilation methods of the statistics can change from year-to-year and
from region-to-region, so the figures are not always comparable.

Further information:
• Regional data (at a local authority level) is available via the Explore education
statistics tool.

<https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/characteristics-of-children-in-need>

• The Characteristics of children in need: methodology contains advice on

how to interpret the statistics.

<https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/methodology/characteristics-of-children-in-need-
methodology>

Children who were the subject of a child protection plan at 31 March 2020 by
age and gender

Age (years) Boys Girls All children

Unborn - - 1,220
Under 1 2,320 2,300 4,670
1–4 6,610 6,110 12,720
5–9 7,670 7,030 14,700
10 – 15 7,950 7,820 15,780
16 and over 1,190 1,230 2,420
Total 25,740 24,480 51,510

Source:
Figures broken down by age and gender provided to the NSPCC by the Department of
Education.

Please note:
• figures may not add due to rounding and a number of cases where the gender
or age of the child was unknown
• the compilation methods of the statistics can change from year-to-year and
from region-to-region, so the figures are not always comparable.

Further information:

nspcc.org.uk/learning learning@nspcc.org.uk

0116 234 7246 @NSPCCLearning

© NSPCC 2021. Registered charity England and Wales 216401. Scotland SC037717.
 Child protection plan statistics
England 2016-2020
Page 3 of 3

• Regional data (at a local authority level) is available via the Explore education
statistics tool.

<https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/characteristics-of-children-in-need>

• The Characteristics of children in need: methodology contains advice on

how to interpret the statistics.

<https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/methodology/characteristics-of-children-in-need-
methodology>

More ways to help you protect children

Take our child protection courses

nspcc.org.uk/training

Sign up to our weekly current awareness newsletter

nspcc.org.uk/caspar

Visit NSPCC Learning to learn more about the statistics behind child
abuse
nspcc.org.uk/statistics

nspcc.org.uk/learning learning@nspcc.org.uk

0116 234 7246 @NSPCCLearning

© NSPCC 2021. Registered charity England and Wales 216401. Scotland SC037717.