The Guardian View on Care Leavers: Responsibility for Looked-After Children Does Not End at 18
Care leavers face significantly worse life outcomes, with a 62% higher risk of dying before age 75 and four times the likelihood of receiving a criminal conviction or caution compared to the general population.
In England, the number of looked-after children decreased slightly to 81,770 in March 2026 from a peak of 83,750 in 2023 but remains 17.7% higher than a decade ago. Meanwhile, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland report 23,230 looked-after children.
New entitlements for care leavers in England have been introduced, including free prescriptions, dental care, and eye care up to age 25, along with a pilot program offering dedicated mental health support and NHS internships. However, reforms face significant challenges due to councils' dire financial situations, depleted local services, difficulties in recruiting and retaining social workers, and shortages of foster carers. A consultation on expanding eligibility for support is expected soon.
Access to higher education for care leavers remains low at about 14%. Scotland has successfully used bursaries to improve university entry rates among this group.
Josh MacAlister, author of a Conservative-era report on care, now serves as a children's minister in Bridget Phillipson's education department. He has urged further reforms to rebalance care provision towards public and non-profit sectors while ensuring that care leavers are fully aware of their entitlements.
