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
2 publicationsThree or More
8,500 of the 81,770 children looked after in England on 31 March 2025 had three or more placements during the year, and 13,410 met the same threshold over a two-year window. The rate is highest among children looked after continuously for less than twelve months. Over that window, more children had three or more social workers than had three or more placements.
Read the report →England's Children's Homes
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 →What we publish
Full analyses of a public dataset, with charts, tables, method and limitations. Published when a dataset is refreshed or a question warrants sustained work.
Shorter pieces examining a single figure or trend, usually in response to a new release or a question raised by providers.
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