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 May 2025
Headline findings
In May 2025 Cafcass received 4,775 new children's cases (7,262 children)
The average daily demand level in May 2025 was 239 children's cases per working day compared to 223 children's cases received per working day during May 2024
The number of open outstanding children's cases at the end of May 2025 is at 27,334 children's cases, this is -8.3% / -2,485 fewer children's cases compared to May 2024. There are currently 43,906 children on open children's cases.
For the financial year to date (April 2025 - May 2025), the main changes are:
A decrease in total case demand (-0.1% / -10 children's cases / -244 children compared to the same period last year)
An increase in public law children's cases (+5.5% / +148 children's cases / +142 children)
A decrease in private law children's cases (-2.4% / -158 children's cases / -386 children)
Public law children’s cases (Financial year: 1 April 2025 – 31 May 2025)
Between 1 April 2025 and 31 May 2025, Cafcass received 2,852 new public law children’s cases, involving 4,486 children.
S31 Care Applications (Financial year: 1 April 2025 – 31 May 2025)
Between 1 April 2025 and 31 May 2025, Cafcass received 1,975 new S31 Care Applications, involving 3,239 children.
S31 care applications have increased by 3.8% (+72 applications) compared to the same period last year with an increase in children involved (+111 children) received between 1 April 2025 and 31 May 2025.
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 May 2025)
Between 1 April 2025 and 31 May 2025, Cafcass received 6,529 new private law children’s cases, involving 9,837 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 (May 2025 snapshot)
Open children’s cases have decreased in comparison to May 2024. There are currently 27,334 open children’s cases. This is -2,485 fewer children's cases (-8.3%) than the same time last year. These children’s cases involve 43,906 children, which is –4,622 fewer children (-9.5%) compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 11,072 open public law children's cases at the end of May 2025, involving 19,289 children. This is -566 (-4.9%) fewer children's cases and -1,366 (-6.6%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 16,262 open private law children's cases at the end of May 2025, involving 24,617 children. This is –1,919 (-10.6%) fewer children's cases and –3,256 (-11.7%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.