Skip to main content

Children and young people feedback line: 0808 175 3333

Our data

Woman holding pen

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 2026 – 30 April 2026

Cafcass Monthly Statistics graphic showing April 2026 data

Headline findings

  • In April 2026 Cafcass received 5,079 new children's cases (7,684 children), this represents the highest number of new children’s cases received in the month of April since April 2019.
  • The average daily demand level in April 2026 was 254 children's cases per working day compared to 228 children's cases received per working day during April 2025.
  • The number of open outstanding children's cases at the end of April 2026 is at 29,335 children's cases, this is +7.7% / +2,106 children's cases compared to April 2025.
  • There were 29,335 open outstanding children's cases at the end of April 2026, this is 7.7% / +2,106 children's cases (+3,019 children) compared to April 2025. There are currently 46,871 children on open children's cases which is +0.8%/+370 children compared to the previous month (March 2026).

For the financial year to date (1 April 2026 – 30 April 2026) totals, the main changes are:

  • An increase in total case demand (+11.3% / +517 children's cases / +683 children compared to the same period last year)
  • An increase in public law children's cases (+0.7% / +9 children's cases / +10 children)
  • An increase in private law children's cases (+15.9% / +508 children's cases / +673 children)  

Public law children’s cases (financial year to date: 1 April 2026 – 30 April 2026)

Between 1 April 2026 and 30 April 2026, Cafcass received 1,382 new public law children’s cases, involving 2,170 children.

S31 Care Applications (financial year to date: 1 April 2026 – 30 April 2026)

Between 1 April 2026 and 30 April 2026, Cafcass received 949 new S31 Care Applications, involving 1,576 children.

S31 care applications have increased by 0.3% (+3 applications) compared to the same period last year with a 3.5% increase in children involved (+54 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 to date: 1 April 2026 – 30 April 2026)

Between 1 April 2026 and 30 April 2026, Cafcass received 3,697 new private law children’s cases, involving 5,514 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 (April 2026 snapshot)

Open children’s cases have increased in comparison to April 2025. There are currently 29,335 open children’s cases. This is +2,106 more children's cases (+7.7%) than the same time last year. These children’s cases involve 46,871 children, which is +3,019 more children (+6.9%) compared to the same month last year. 

Cafcass had 11,254 open public law children's cases at the end of April 2026, involving 19,612 children. This is +238 (+2.2%) more children's cases and +407 (+2.1%) more children compared to the same month last year. 

Cafcass had 18,081 open private law children's cases at the end of April 2026, involving 27,259 children. This is +1,868 (+11.5%) more children's cases and +2,612 (+10.6) more children compared to the same month last year.