--- title: Children's Services UK Market Report Seventh Edition - LaingBuisson description: Insightful analysis of the UK children's services market, with data on care, education, funding and policy. Purchase the seventh edition report today. image: https://go.laingbuisson.com/hubfs/ChildServ7ed_Launch_graphic_4.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://go.laingbuisson.com/childrens-services-report-7#main-content) [![LaingBuisson_Square_Logo_2025_Intelligence_Insight_Text_Plum_png_1x](https://go.laingbuisson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LaingBuisson_Square_Logo_2025_Intelligence_Insight_Text_Plum_png_1x.png?width=206&height=70&name=LaingBuisson_Square_Logo_2025_Intelligence_Insight_Text_Plum_png_1x.png)](https://www.laingbuisson.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation # Children’s Services UK Market Report Seventh Edition #  Navigating supply and demand in children’s  services As demand for children’s social care and special education continues to rise, LaingBuisson’s latest edition delivers essential insights for children's services providers, investors, policymakers, and local authorities. Explore changes in supply against a backdrop of funding pressure, capacity constraints, policy reform, and increasing high-needs demand across the special education, residential care, fostering, and adoption sectors. [Find out more](https://go.laingbuisson.com/childrens-services-report-7#more) Sponsored by ![Untitled-22](https://go.laingbuisson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled-22.png?width=196&height=110&name=Untitled-22.png "Untitled-22") ![Untitled-2-4](https://go.laingbuisson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled-2-4.png?width=196&height=110&name=Untitled-2-4.png "Untitled-2-4") # Seventh Edition Children's Services UK Market Report Proudly sponsored by [JLL](https://www.jll.com/en-in/) and [NinePoints Property](https://www.ninepointsproperty.com/)  Authored by [Tim Read](https://www.laingbuisson.com/laingbuisson-experts-tim-read/) | Published: 2nd July 2025 | pp. 283 Product description Who is this for? Download our sample report **The seventh edition of LaingBuisson’s Children’s Services UK Market Report is essential reading for anyone involved in this important area of the UK’s social care system now valued at £27.20 billion. Written and researched by leading sector expert Tim Read, this definitive report offers comprehensive and independent insight into all areas of the children’s services market, with detailed coverage of special education and social care services for children and young people. This report also offers insights into changing market behaviour by providers, including shifts away from multi-sector provision into single segment specialisation and exploration of new areas for revenue growth.** Since the last edition was published in 2022, the report reveals a market that has grown significantly, which we previously reported was at £17.1 billion. Value growth has been underpinned through increasing volumes of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and challenged in reducing the number of children placed in residential care homes. While pressures on public sector budgets remain, demand-led statutory obligations have sustained service volumes and, in turn, market revenues. In the special education market segment, now valued at £9.04 billion, the volume of children being placed in independent special schools continues to rise dramatically, with the number rising consistently by above 10% for the previous five years. Our Children in Care chapters, mainly covering Children’s Residential Care and Foster Care, reveal a sub-sector now valued at £18.18 billion. Our report identifies a clear division in market growth between these sectors and details long-term supply trends across public and independent providers to meet rising demand. The report also explores the current political and regulatory landscape, including Labour’s proposed reforms to children’s social care currently progressing through Parliament. This changing policy environment could have implications for service commissioning, provider behaviour and future investment strategies. - Children’s residential care providers - Foster care and adoption agencies - Special education providers (schools and colleges) - Leaving care and supported living providers - Local authorities and children’s services commissioners - Central government departments and policymakers - Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS commissioners - Investors (private equity, infrastructure funds, institutional investors) - Banks, lenders and financial institutions - Management consultants and advisory firms - Legal and regulatory professionals - Charities and voluntary sector organisations - Academic researchers and think tanks - Trade associations and representative bodies - Auditors and accountancy firms - Insurance providers with exposure to social care - Property and real estate developers involved in care infrastructure - Workforce and recruitment agencies supplying children’s services staff - Technology providers supporting children’s services operations ## **Interested in a complementary sample of this report?** **Access a preview of the authoritative insights that make LaingBuisson's market reports indispensable for strategic decision-making.** [![Download button](https://go.laingbuisson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Button%201.png?width=249&height=130&name=Button%201.png)](https://go.laingbuisson.com/childrens-services-report-7/sample?hsLang=en)   [SELECT YOUR REPORT OPTION TO PURCHASE](https://go.laingbuisson.com/childrens-services-report-7#buynow) Want to know more? [Speak to our team](https://go.laingbuisson.com/childrens-services-report-7#contact) Or keep reading... ![ONS_2](https://go.laingbuisson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LB%20Logos/ONS_2.png?width=183&height=50&name=ONS_2.png "ONS_2") LaingBuisson is the chosen provider of independent sector healthcare market data to the UK Government’s Office for National Statistics. ## What's inside? - ![Cover](https://go.laingbuisson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image001.jpg?width=1956&height=2806&name=image001.jpg) **Unique Data** - ![CS7_Infographic](https://go.laingbuisson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CS7_Infographic.png?width=674&height=955&name=CS7_Infographic.png) **Trusted Intelligence** - ![CS7_example](https://go.laingbuisson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CS7_example.png?width=664&height=938&name=CS7_example.png) **Actionable Insights** - ##### **Over 100 exclusive tables, graphs, figures and charts covering all aspects of the special education and children in care markets** - ##### **Long-term views on supply growth split by key markets** - ##### **Long-term view on key demand indicators** - ##### **Analysis of past, present and future government policy and regulatory changes** - ##### **Overview of key providers and market structure in fostering, adoption, and residential care** - ##### **Investment trends and sector transaction** [SEE THE CONTENTS PAGE](https://www.laingbuisson.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/LaingBuisson_Childrens_Services_7ed_CONTENTS.pdf) Have questions? [Our team is here to assist](https://go.laingbuisson.com/childrens-services-report-7#contact) Or keep reading... ## Buy now ##### Multi-User PDF License with Excel Data Workbooks **(Hard copy on request)** £3,865 [BUY NOW](https://www.laingbuisson.com/shop/childrens-services-uk-market-report-7ed/?add-to-cart=37254&variation_id=37257) ##### PDF One User Only £1,325 [BUY NOW](https://www.laingbuisson.com/shop/childrens-services-uk-market-report-7ed/?add-to-cart=37254&variation_id=37258) ##### Hard Copy Only £1,325 [BUY NOW](https://www.laingbuisson.com/shop/childrens-services-uk-market-report-7ed/?add-to-cart=37254&variation_id=37259) [Not ready to buy? Download a free sample report to preview.](https://go.laingbuisson.com/childrens-services-report-7/sample?hsLang=en) #### Need assistance? [Reach out to our team](https://go.laingbuisson.com/childrens-services-report-7#contact) > **"Continued growth in the special education and children’s residential care market value is underpinned by challenges in bringing rising volumes under control, with under-pressure commissioners required to fund these statutory services. The government has reform in mind but independent sector services are usually high-quality environments that meet current best practice, so the government should be wary of de-stabilising markets that have few options for alternative supply.”** > > > > ![Untitled design (13)-1](https://go.laingbuisson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(13)-1.png?width=100&height=100&name=Untitled%20design%20(13)-1.png) > > Tim Read, Report Author & Director of Research, LaingBuisson ## Speak to our team Please fill out the form below and a team member will be in touch to assist with your enquiry. [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/LaingBuissonLtd/) [linkedin-in icon](https://uk.linkedin.com/company/laingbuisson) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/LaingBuisson?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/laingbuissonevents/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTP8i9pzHLL4_y4lSx5dnVA) - Contact - Address: Unit 105, Screenworks, 22 Highbury Grove, London, N5 2EF - Telephone: 0 (+44)20 7833 9123 - Email Address: sales@laingbuisson.com - Further links - www.laingbuisson.com - www.laingbuissonnews.com - www.laingbuissonevents.com - www.laingbuissonawards.com [![Intelligence_Insight_Text_WhiteArtboard 1@4x](https://go.laingbuisson.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LB%20Logos/Intelligence_Insight_Text_WhiteArtboard%201@4x.png?width=219&height=75&name=Intelligence_Insight_Text_WhiteArtboard%201@4x.png "Intelligence_Insight_Text_WhiteArtboard 1@4x")](https://www.laingbuisson.com/) Copyright © 2025, LaingBuisson Ltd [Privacy Statement](https://www.laingbuisson.com/privacy-statement/) | [Terms Of Use](https://www.laingbuisson.com/terms-of-use/) | [Terms & Conditions](https://www.laingbuisson.com/terms-and-conditions/)