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 July 2025
Headline findings
In July 2025 Cafcass received 5,158 new children's cases (7,867 children)
The average daily demand level in July 2025 was 224 children's cases per working day compared to 220 children's cases received per working day during July 2024
The number of open outstanding children's cases at the end of July 2025 is at 27,033 children's cases, this is -5.2% / -1,471 children's cases (-2,880 children) compared to July 2024. There are currently 43,480 children on open children's cases.
For the financial year to date (April 2025 - July 2025), the main changes are:
An increase in total case demand (+4.2% / +768 children's cases / +1,044 children compared to the same period last year)
An increase in public law children's cases (+8.0% / +440 children's cases / +744 children)
An increase in private law children's cases (+2.5% / +328 children's cases / +300 children)
Public law children’s cases (Financial year: 1 April 2025 – 31 July 2025)
Between 1 April 2025 and 31 July 2025, Cafcass received 5,929 new public law children’s cases, involving 9,497 children.
S31 Care Applications (Financial year: 1 April 2025 – 31 July 2025)
Between 1 April 2025 and 31 July 2025, Cafcass received 4,209 new S31 Care Applications, involving 6,936 children.
S31 care applications have increased by 9.8% (+375 applications) compared to the same period last year with an increase in children involved (+664 children) received between 1 April 2025 and 31 July 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 July 2025)
Between 1 April 2025 and 31 July 2025, Cafcass received 13,286 new private law children’s cases, involving 20,049 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 (July 2025 snapshot)
Open children’s cases have decreased in comparison to July 2024. There are currently 27,033 open children’s cases. This is -1,471 fewer children's cases (-5.2%) than the same time last year. These children’s cases involve 43,480 children, which is -2,880 fewer children (-6.2%) compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 11,266 open public law children's cases at the end of July 2025, involving 19,666 children. This is -255 (-2.2%) fewer children's cases and -569 (-2.8%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.
Cafcass had 15,767 open private law children's cases at the end of July 2025, involving 23,814 children. This is -1,216 (-7.2%) fewer children's cases and -2,311 (-8.8%) fewer children compared to the same month last year.