Contents.
2
Executive
summary.
3
Safe, Healthy and
Living Well 5
Maximise the potential
14
Welcome to the quarter
one performance report for the period 1 April to 30 June
2025.
The main report includes
an executive summary highlighting a combination of areas doing well
and areas to be addressed. The report has been organised by our
five revised Council Plan ambitions for 2025/29: Thriving Places
and Empowered Communities, Sustainable and Connected Places, Safe,
Healthy and Living Well, Maximise the Potential and One
Council, this is to aid in the monitoring of the Council plan
over time.
The report also includes
the following appendices:
·
Appendix A:
Appendix of KPI’s taken from the Council Plan
Going Well
Referrals to Children’s Social Care
(CSC)
This quarter has seen the lowest
quarterly number of referrals for 2 years with 1,292 recorded and
is 234 (-15%) fewer referrals than in Q1 last year.
Placement Stability
Despite the increase in the number of
children entering care during Q1 2025/26, there has been notable
improvement in both short and long term stability for children. The
outcome being that children entering care are experiencing fewer
placement moves and more consistent care and remaining in more
familiar environments for longer.
To be Addressed
Child Protection Plans
The number of open Child Protection Plans
(CPP) increased for the 6th successive quarter to 666, 42% higher
than 12 months ago (n=197). The rate of CPP per 10k population
stood at 58 per 10k at the end of the quarter, statistically
significantly higher than the rate recorded nationally (45 per 10k)
or the statistical neighbour average (35 per 10k).
Timeliness of Assessment
Over the last 12 months we have seen the
average number of working days taken by social workers to complete
a Children & Families assessment rise from 26 in Q1 2024/25 to
32 in this quarter. We’ve also seen the proportion of
assessments completed within the 45 working day threshold fall by
5% to 91% in the same period. Although this is the worst quarterly
performance reported in 8 years, it remains significantly better
than the national or statistical neighbours averages (84% and 86%
respectively).
Children in Care
The number of children in care is
currently at an all-time historical high in North Yorkshire,
increasing further at the end of Q1 2025/26 to 571 children in
care, compared to Q4 2024/25 with 565 children in care.
Going Well
Timeliness of EHC
plans issued
There has been a
considerable improvement in the timeliness of new Education and
Health Care plans being issued. 59% of EHC plans were issued within
the 20-week deadline in Q1, compared to 12% in the same period of
2024/25. June saw performance at 73%, which was the highest
monthly rate seen for four years.
To be Addressed
Permanent Exclusions
Whilst there has been
some indication of a reduction in suspensions (temporary exclusions
from school for a fixed period), schools choosing to permanently
exclude remains at similar levels to last year. There have been 111
permanent exclusions from mainstream schools in 2024/25 to date,
compared to 110 at the same point of the previous academic
year.
Safeguarding & Child
Protection
Summary
This quarter has seen the seasonally
adjusted number of contacts received at the front door increase by
5% (n=396) with 8,645 contacts received. This is the highest
quarterly number of contacts received since the inception of the
MAST and a 13% increase (n=984) compared with Q1 last year.
Analysis highlights increased contacts from police, schools and
individuals have driven the rise in contacts this
quarter.
We continue to see more children present at risk of
significant harm necessitating a statutory child protection plan.
There were 206 such plans issued this quarter, a 13% increase
(n=24) compared with Q1 last year. This has led to an unprecedented
666 open CPP at the end of the quarter.
Timeliness of assessment fell by 1.4% this quarter to
91.4%, although this remains significantly better than the national
average (84.4%) or the statistical neighbour average (86.2%).
However, performance this quarter was much lower than the 96.6%
reported in Q1 last year.
Contacts at the Front
Door
This quarter has seen another period of very high
demand at the front door, with 8,645 recorded. Whilst this is
similar to the 8,603 contacts received in the previous quarter, it
is 13% higher (n=984) than in Q1 last year. The seasonally adjusted
increase in contacts can be attributed to an increase in contacts
from the police (+19%, +631 contacts), health services (+8%, +128
contacts) and from individuals (+20%, +103 contacts).
Referrals to
CSC
Despite
demand remaining exceptionally high at the front door, this quarter
saw referrals fall by 139 (-10.7%) to 1292 this quarter. This is
234 (-15%) fewer referrals than in Q1 last year and is the lowest
quarterly number of referrals received in 2 years.
However, despite the reduction in the number of
overall referrals we continue to see a high number of children
referred at risk of significant harm, demonstrated by the 757
strategy meetings held this month and 486 S47 child protection
investigations undertaken this quarter.
The rate of re-referral rose by 1.2% to
20.3% this quarter and remains statistically significantly lower
than the national rate of 22.4%.
Timeliness of
Assessment
Historically, timeliness of assessment has been a key
strength in North Yorkshire, and the local authority has
consistently been among the top 5 performing local authorities
nationally in recent years. However, performance has deteriorated
in recent months from 98% in Q3 2024/25 to 91% in Q1 this year.
It’s worth noting that despite the dip in performance,
timeliness of assessment remains significantly better than the most
recent national data (84.4% completed in 45 working days) or
statistical neighbour average (86.2%).
The average number
of days taken to complete an assessment has increased from 27
working days in Q3 2024/25 to 32 working days this quarter, which
is similar to the national average (32 working days) and the
statistical neighbour average (33 working days).
Child Protection
Plans
This quarter saw the number of open CPP
rise for the 6th successive quarter to 666 at the end of
June. This is an increase of 5% (n=33) compared to the position at
the end of March and a 42% increase (n=197) compared to the number
of open CPP at the end of June last year. This is the highest
quarterly number of open CPP in at least 10 years and reflects the
increase in the number of children presenting to services at risk
of significant harm. However, the rate of increase this quarter is
much lower than the average of 12% over the previous 4
quarters.
It’s important to note that the
high number of CPP places additional demands on the service and
wider partner organisations. The issues faced by children subject
to a CPP are typically more complex or entrenched than in the case
of a Child in Need and will therefore require more intensive
interventions over a longer period.
Of the 206 new CPP issued this quarter 55
were second or subsequent plans, equivalent to a rate of 26.7%.
It’s worth noting that in 27 of 55 second or subsequent plans
more than 2 years had elapsed since the previous plan.
Children Entering into
Care
The
number of children in care is currently at an all-time historical
high in North Yorkshire, increasing further at the end of Q1
2025/26, to 571 children in care, compared to Q4 2024/25 with
565 children in care, this is an increase of 6 individual children
and +1%, although it is worth noting the percentage increase and
number of children is in line with that at Q4 2024/25, with 5
individual children and +0.9% increase reported.
Additionally, when cross referencing back to Q1 2024/25 year on
year comparisons demonstrate increases of +68 children and +13.5%
increase.
Regarding
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children there has been an increase to
44 children at the end of Q1 2025/26 compared to 39 children at the
end of Q4 2024/25, presenting an increase of 5 individual children
and +11.4% increase in children. At same point last year is a
decrease of 9 individual children and decrease of -17%.
Although the number of children entering care
increased further, it is worth noting this growth is similar to
that of Q4 2024/25 and Q3 2024/25, demonstrating that the increased
rates have reduced when comparing this quarter’s data to the
first two quarters in 2024/25 (Q1 and Q2). When analysing the
data further regarding admissions and discharges, the data
currently is indicating in the last two quarters (Q4 2024/25 and Q1
2025/26), the numbers of admissions and discharges are becoming
more aligned and the gap has narrowed between these two
indicators.
At Q3 2024/25, 60 admissions were reported
compared to just 25 discharges (+35 more admissions than
discharges), the impact increased the numbers of children in care
further. As a contrast, if you look at the end of Q4 2024/25, there
were 53 admissions versus 49 discharges (+4 more admissions than
discharges). Although, at the end of Q1 2025/26 the gap is
slightly more with 63 admissions versus 57 discharges (+6 more
admissions), as a year on year 
comparison also this is a
decrease compared to performance at Q1 2024/25, 54 admissions
versus 42 discharges (+12 more admissions).
Short and Long Term Placement
Stability
Despite the increase in the number of children entering care during
Q1 2025/26, there has been notable improvement in both short- and
long-term stability for children. The
outcome being that children entering care are experiencing fewer
placement moves and more consistent care and remaining in more
familiar environments for longer, which is important for a
child’s emotional and developmental wellbeing. However, it is
worth noting that not all placement moves are detrimental for the
children, in some cases this can lead to a better match and meet
the child’s needs more appropriately and a step in the
direction of a better level of permanence for the child.
Short Term Stability
Regarding short term stability at
the end of Q1 2025/26, fewer children have experienced 3 or more
placements during the period, 74 (13%) of children, compared to 83
(14.7%) of children at the end of Q4 2024/25. Although, this
is a positive step and is an improvement when comparing it to the
same point last year at Q1 2024/25, the number of children
experiencing 3 or more placements moves was reported as 48 (9.7%)
of children, this represents a +3% increase year on year, however
the number of children in care at that point was also considerably
lower at 497 children in care at the end of Q1 2024/25. The
national average currently from the 903 DFE Children in Care Return
2023/24, reported 10% of children with 3 or more placements in 12
months and that of our statistical neighbours 11.2%.
Long Term Stability
Long Term Stability continues to
be strong and demonstrates a positive trend for children entering
care in North Yorkshire and has improved at the end of Q1 2025/26
to 69.4% with 150 children in long term placements of over 2 years
compared to 68.2% at the end of Q4 2024/25, with 146 children in
long term placement of over 2 years. When comparing the same
point last year this also is demonstrating an increase of +3.1%
year on year, compared to Q1 2024/25 (65.1%). Additionally North
Yorkshire performance is strong and above both national and
statistical benchmarks with national average currently reported
from DfE releases for 2023/24, as 68% and that of our statistical
neighbours also at 66.1%.
Early Help
Activity
The number of ongoing
households receiving support from the Early Help Service has
decreased in Quarter 1 2025/26 and has reduced down by 5.5%
compared to Q4 2024/25. The current total of 1,420 Households
relates to 2,705 children and young people.
Demand
through the ‘front door’ has reduced by 7.2% to 1,366
compared to the Q1 2024/25 (1,472), as shown in the chart below.
The low Quarter 1 2022/23 figure may be due to continuing reduced
demand during the Covid 19 pandemic. Compared to the previous
quarter, Q4 2024/25, then new referrals have decreased even more,
by 11.6% from the 1,546 Early Help Episodes in January-March
2025.
In Q1 2024/25, the average length of time
cases were open was 17.4 weeks (Episode Leads). this has increased
slightly to 17.6 weeks in Q1 2025/26. For 0-19 young people, in Q1
2024/25, the figure was 17.6, increasing to 17.9 in Q1 2025/26.
Timeliness – Early Help Assessments
The
timeliness of Early Help Initial Assessments continues to be very
strong with 96.4% of Initial Assessments completed within the 20
working days target in Quarter 1 2025/26. However, this is a
reduction from 97.8% in Q1 2024/25.
In addition, 97.3%
of Assessment Reviews were completed within the 6 weeks target in
Quarter 1 2025/26 – again a slight reduction from
98.2% in Quarter 1
2024/25.
Youth Justice Service
First Time Entrants (FTE’s) into the Criminal Justice
System
The latest data for the 12 months ending March 2025
showed an increase in the rate of FTE’s (r=190) into the
criminal justice system in North Yorkshire compared with the rate
12 months previously (r=144). The rate of 190 relates to 106 young
people and places North Yorkshire in the 3rd Quartile
nationally.
The current rate in North Yorkshire is similar to the
regional rate (r=191), but higher than the national rate (r=157)
and the family group average (r=118). 
Recent data is taken directly from the YJS case
management system rather than from an extract of the Police
National Computer (PNC). Data from the case management system will
show more FTE’s than the official data as it will count some
offences (e.g., some Motoring Offences) which are excluded from PNC
as they are not ‘recordable’.
As with the previous data, the most recent data has
been impacted by a few recording issues following the move onto the
new case management system. The figure of 106 young people includes
4 Out of Area cases. Deducting these cases would reduce the rate
from 190 to 183 (102 young people).
The figure of 102 includes 18
non-recordable Motoring Offences which would not be input onto
PNC.
The Ministry of Justice recently published the 2024
calendar year FTE data taken from the official source, an extract
of PNC. The data showed 78 FTE’s in North Yorkshire equating
to a rate of 140. This compares with the data published by the YJB
from YOT case management system data for the same period of 99
FTE’s equating to a rate of 178 (after deducting the cases
included due to inputting errors).
It is anticipated that the rate will drop in the next
set of figures as the quarter that will ‘drop out’ of
the figures (April-June 2024) contained a particularly high number
of FTE’s (n=37).
Reoffending Rates
The
latest official Binary re-offending rate for North Yorkshire of
36.2% for the April-June 2023 cohort was a decrease from the figure
of 38.2% seen in the cohort 12 months previously. However, the rate
is higher than the Family Group average (29.4%), Regional rate
(34.3%) and National rate (31.6%).
The April-June 2021 cohort showing a low reoffending rate in North
Yorkshire is believed to have been impacted by covid related
lockdowns and the recovery of the court system.
The frequency rate
for this cohort (average number of reoffences per reoffender)
decreased significantly to 3.06 and is lower than the Family Group
rate of 5.28, Regional rate (4.96) and National rate (4.25).
The North Yorkshire
cohort consisted of 47 young people with 17 reoffenders committing
52 proven reoffences.
The number of young
people in the latest cohort is the highest level seen since the
April-June 2021 cohort. The average cohort size in the 5 cohorts
from Jan-Mar 2022 up to and including Jan-Mar 2023 was 35 with an
average of 13 reoffenders.
Inclusion
Education, Health & Care (EHC) Plan Timeliness
There has been a clear improvement in the
timeliness of issuing EHC plans since the beginning of 2025 and
this has continued through Q1. 59% of EHC plans were issued within
the 20-week deadline in Q1, compared to 12% in the same period of
2024/25. June saw performance at 73%, which was the highest monthly
rate seen for four years. 
Previous national comparisons placed North Yorkshire below the
national average of 46%. However, given the sustained improvement
in performance, North Yorkshire’s performance would be
expected to be well above this national benchmark by the end of the
year.
This increase in timeliness has been achieved
alongside increasing numbers of new EHC plans being issued, 378
were issued in Q1 2025/26 compared to 193 issued in Q1 2024/25. It
is now expected that a higher number of EHC plans will be issued in
this year than any previous year.
Exclusions from School
Total numbers of children
being excluded from schools for either a temporary period or
permanently continues to be higher than recorded before the
pandemic, however there is some indication that the number of
suspensions is beginning to slow or reduce.
It is important to note that
schools choosing to exclude is a trend observed nationally and the
most recent available national data (Spring term 2023/24 academic
year) shows that North Yorkshire rates of exclusion have been at or
below national rates for primary and secondary schools.
There have been a total
of 111 permanent exclusions from North Yorkshire mainstream schools
in 2024/25 academic year to the end of June, pending potential
appeals. This compares with 110 in the same point of 2023/24.
Rates of secondary
schools and primary schools choosing to permanently exclude is very
similar to recent years. There is as yet no sign in a reduction in
the high level of permanent exclusions from primary schools which
increased from 5 in 2021/22 to 25 in 2023/24. So far this year,
there have been 22 permanent exclusions from North Yorkshire
primary schools.
Whilst there has been an
increasing national trend in the numbers of children suspended
(temporary exclusions) at least once from schools since the
pandemic, there is some indication that this is beginning to slow
and reduce. The increase in North Yorkshire from 2022/23 (2609) to
2023/24 (3098) was +18% (n=+489). In 2024/25 to the end of June,
there have been 2222 children suspended from secondary schools
(totalling 7754 separate suspensions) and 370 from primary schools
(370 suspensions), compared to 2717 and 378 at the same point last
year respectively, suggesting that there will have been a reduction
in total suspensions from secondary schools in this academic
year.
Reasons for schools choosing to suspend are very similar to
previous years. Persistent disruptive behaviour has been by far the
most common reason (55% of all suspensions), Verbal abuse or
threatening behaviour toward an adult, the next most common reason
given, makes up approximately 16%.
Elective Home Education
There are currently the highest number of
children Electively Home Educated (EHE) in North Yorkshire than at
any time, 1559 by the end of Q1 2025/26, compared to 1267 at this
point last year. It is a parental entitlement to Elective Home
Educate and has become increasingly prevalent since the pandemic,
with no indication of a decrease in this trend into the future.
Published national comparators put the
National rate of EHE as a percentage of the school population at
1.4%, North Yorkshire is 1.5% (DfE, 2024). Based on current
internal data, North Yorkshire’s rate would be closer to 1.7%
at this point in time, with National data for this year
forthcoming.
Nationally published statistics show that an
increasing number of parents are choosing to home educate due to
mental health concerns, a trend similar to that witnessed in North
Yorkshire. The recently published national 10 Year Health Plan (Fit
For The Future) announced the expansion of mental health
support teams in schools and colleges to “identify needs and
provide additional support for children and young people’s
mental health through Young Futures Hubs.
Education and Skills
Attendance
Overall attendance in schools appear to have
marginally improved into 2024/25, when compared to recent years,
although it continues to be below levels before the pandemic.
Pre-pandemic, the primary school attendance rate was recorded as
96.1% (currently 95.2%) in 2018/19 and 94.4% in secondary
(currently 90.5%), 91.3% for special schools (currently 84.3%).
Improvements in attendance are most apparent
amongst children recorded as being persistently absent (absent from
at least 10% of all sessions through the year) in primary schools.
As of the end of June, 10.8% of all children were recorded as
persistently absent in primary schools, below (better than) the
2023/24 rate of 12.4% and the national rate of 14.6%.
Whilst improvements have also been seen in
secondary and special schools, these continue to be above national
rates recorded in 2023/24.
North Yorkshire Council
has held an Education Matters event this year to share information
and promote partnership working for school attendance. These events
have been valuable in understanding potential solutions.