Children's services is now recognised as the area of most significant pressure across local government, topping budget pressure surveys from sector groups.

Councils are facing a combination of significantly more children in care and the cost of placements skyrocketing. The impact on budgets has been stark. The Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA) analysis found that in 2022-23, 27% of core spending power was paid out on children's services – up from 14% in 2011-12. Over the same period, spending power has fallen by about a fifth across England.