Data and analysis on children's residential care.

Arc Research examines how children's residential care in England is changing, using publicly available data and original analysis. We publish what the data supports, and say plainly where it runs out.

Arc Research is published by Arcora Ltd, which sells Arc, a commercial recording product used by children's homes. That is worth knowing when you read our analysis. Every figure we publish comes from a named public dataset, our method and its limitations are set out in full alongside each report, and we link to the original source so you can check the work.

Reports

1 publication
REPORT Published 13 August 2026

England's Children's Homes

Ofsted Provider Data 2025

Ofsted's provider register lists 4,394 registered children's homes, 747 more than a year earlier. Capacity grew more slowly than the number of homes, growth is concentrated in the private sector, and ownership is more fragmented than the sector's reputation suggests.

Read the report →
4,394
Registered children's homes in England
+20.5%
Growth in homes year on year
1,526
Distinct owning organisations
Source: Ofsted · Analysis: Arc Research

What we publish

REPORTS

Full analyses of a public dataset, with charts, tables, method and limitations. Published when a dataset is refreshed or a question warrants sustained work.

DATA BRIEFINGS

Shorter pieces examining a single figure or trend, usually in response to a new release or a question raised by providers.

ANNUAL RESEARCH

A yearly State of Children's Residential Care report drawing together the year's data with sector context. In preparation.

Using this research

Our reports are free to read, quote and cite with attribution. Each report carries a citation block, a link to the original dataset, and a full account of method and limitations. Journalists and researchers who need underlying figures or a different cut of the data can contact us.

research@arccare.co.uk