Serious child-related incidents reported by councils have risen by more than a quarter during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to LGA analysis of latest figures.
The total number of serious incident notifications in England from April to September 2020/21 increased by 27 per cent, from 224 to 285, on the same period last year, government figures show. This follows a fall of 18 per cent between 2018/19 and 2019/20.
Incidents involving infants aged under one increased by 31 per cent, from 78 to 102, while incidents involving those aged one to five soared by 50 per cent, from 32 to 48. Incidents involving those aged over 16 have also risen – by almost a third, from 45 to 59.
The number of notices relating to child deaths increased by 34 per cent, from 89 to 119.
The majority (two-thirds) of incidents occurred while living at home.
The LGA has called for the £1.7 billion removed from the Early Intervention Grant since 2010 to be reinstated to enable councils to provide more preventative and early help services, to help avoid situations escalating into acts of abuse and harm.
It says the Government’s recently launched independent review of children’s social care is a vital opportunity to help ensure that the right homes for all children in care are in place, and that sufficient resources are available to give all families and children the support they need and deserve.
Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said councils “have been working hard with their partners to respond to changing and emerging threats to children and young people” during the pandemic, but that the rise in serious incident notifications was “particularly harrowing”.
