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Our data

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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 June 2026

Cafcass Monthly Statistics June 2026

Headline findings

  • In June 2026 Cafcass received 5,538 new children's cases (8,446 children) 
  • The average daily demand level in June 2026 was 252 children's cases per working day compared to 224 children's cases received per working day during June 2025
  • The number of open outstanding children's cases at the end of June 2026 is 29,150 children's cases, this is +6.8% / +1,866 more children's cases compared to June 2025. There are currently 46,645 children on open children's cases which is +329 (+0.7%) more than May 2026. 
     

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

  • An increase in total case demand (+9.7% / +1,357 children's cases / +1,915 children compared to the same period last year) 
  • An increase in public law children's cases (+3.3% / +141 children's cases / +100 children) 
  • An increase in private law children's cases (+12.6% / +1,216 children's cases / +1,815 children) 

 

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

Between 1 April 2026 and 30 June 2026, Cafcass received 4,439 new public law children’s cases, involving 6,983 children.

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

Between 1 April 2026 and 30 June 2026, Cafcass received 3,153 new S31 Care Applications, involving 5,130 children.

S31 care applications have increased by 3.3% (+101 applications) compared to the same period last year with a 3.8% increase in the number children involved (+189 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 June 2026)

Between 1 April 2026 and 30 June 2026, Cafcass received 10,889 new private law children’s cases, involving 16,511 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 (June 2026 snapshot)

Open children’s cases have increased in comparison to June 2025. There are currently 29,150 open children’s cases. This is +1,866 more children's cases (+6.8%) than the same time last year. These children’s cases involve 46,645 children, which is +2,964 more children (+6.8%) compared to the same month last year. 

Cafcass had 11,539 open public law children's cases at the end of June 2026, involving 19,981 children. This is +340 (+3.0%) more children's cases and +478 (+2.5%) more children compared to the same month last year. 

Cafcass had 17,611 open private law children's cases at the end of June 2026, involving 26,664 children. This is +1,526 (+9.5%) more children's cases and +2,486 (+10.3%) more children compared to the same month last year.