Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Review of Early Deaths of Care Leavers, published on 25 August 2026, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of enabling greater continuity of care placements for young people with assessed care needs transitioning to adulthood.

The government is determined to address the national tragedy of early deaths of care experienced young people, improving support for care leavers.

The department is funding local authorities so care leavers can stay with their foster families up to age 21 through Staying Put. We are rolling out an enhanced Staying Close programme nationally by 2029, improving care leavers’ housing outcomes and supporting enduring relationships, including for those with additional needs. Local authorities must make an assessment when a young person is likely to need care and support into adulthood, drawing on a young person or carer’s aspirations and setting out support to achieve them.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has also launched a project to improve transitions into adult social care. The DHSC will deliver national best practice guidance and training, to ensure staff have the knowledge and tools they need to provide high-quality support to young people transitioning into adulthood.

The department does not hold data on the number of care leavers who had an assessed need for personal care by their 18th birthday.