GovWire

The children looked after return is an annual statutory data collection for all local authorities. You must complete statutory censuses by law unless theres a good reason not to.

The data covers the financial year (1 April to 31 March). It records details of:

• every child your local authority looks after at any time during the year
• all young people who are eligible for care leaver support and whose 17th to 25th birthdays fall within the collection period
• information on the health of children who have been looked after continuously for 12 months
• information on adoptions of looked-after children

Under the Children Act 1989, a child is legally defined as looked after by a local authority if he or she:

• gets accommodation from the local authority for a continuous period of more than 24 hours
• is subject to a care order (to put the child into the care of the local authority)
• is subject to a placement order (to put the child up for adoption)

Important dates

2023 to 2024 return

Return dates are:

• collection opens 1 April 2024
• data loaded by 31 May 2024
• data submitted by 28 June 2024

Submit your data

You should submit your 2023 to 2024 data in XML or CSV format using the CLA 2023 application. Well publish the application before the return opens and notify all users.

See the guide for local authorities for more information on preparing the data.

Return documents

The following documents will help local authorities complete the children looked after return:

2023 to 2024 return

• guide for local authorities
• technical specification

2024 to 2025 return

• guide for local authorities
• technical specification

Help with submitting data

For complex questions, or if you want to request a username and password for the CLA application, use the service request form. We aim to answer your question within 5 working days.

Feedback

Use the feedback form if you have any comments about our data collection service, including the CLA system and the helpdesk service.