5th Special Report - Children’s social care: Government Response

This is the government's response, published 17 October 2025.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government says its reform programme, backed by investment of "over £2 billion", addresses many of the Committee's concerns, and accepts some recommendations while declining others such as a national sufficiency strategy.

• On out-of-area placements and sufficiency, it does "not believe a national sufficiency strategy would be responsive enough" to local needs, and says national reporting of reasons for out-of-area placements would be "costly" to local authorities.
• On a profit cap, it would consider one "only if" other measures are not successful, and "can commit to consulting specifically with the Committee" as part of the process.
• On kinship care, it does not currently plan to extend Pupil Premium Plus or admissions priority, citing "limited evidence", but is exploring collecting data through the school census.
• On a national register of foster carers, it is "considering the potential costs and benefits" and will engage stakeholders to "determine next steps".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error