Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training are care leavers, in the most recent period for which data is available.

The available information relates to care leavers aged 17 to 24. This is published in the annual statistical release and is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions/2025.

For 17 to 21-year-old care leavers, information is collected on the activity which most accurately reflects the young person's main activity status on or around their birthday. The latest information on the number of 17 to 21-year-old care leavers who were not in education, employment or training during the reporting year ending 31 March 2025 is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/fast-track/a0cc6be3-ef34-407f-543a-08de072d13df.

For 22 to 24-year-old care leavers, the activity information relates to the latest contact in the year if the young person requested and received support from the local authority.

Local authorities are not expected to be in touch and initiate contact with young people older than 21 who have not requested or received support during the reporting period.

The latest information on the number of known 22 to 24-year-old care leavers not in education, employment or training at their latest contact during the reporting year ending 31 March 2025 is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/fast-track/61b0c0fb-0270-4d46-5441-08de072d13df.