THE proportion of Bradford's "looked after" children in stable placements has fallen in the past year.

In 2017 73 per cent of looked after young people were in "long term stable and secure placements." But by the end of March this year that figure had fallen to 66 per cent. The England average is 70 per cent.

The figures will be discussed by Bradford Council's Corporate Parenting Panel, which discusses issues relating to looked after children, on Monday.

The panel will hear that there were 986 children looked after at the end of March, a 6.4 per cent increase on last year, when there were 927. Nationally there has also been a rise in looked after children.

In Bradford 11 per cent of children had three or more placements in the year, compared to 10 per cent last year.

Adoption levels also fell, with 29 children (10 per cent) adopted this year compared to 42 (15 per cent) last year.

The number of Special Guardianship Orders granted has also decreased from 33 (12 per cent) to 23 (8 per cent).

The report says: "The importance of finding the right family for a child cannot be under-estimated.

"This has long taken primacy over timeliness in Bradford, particularly when dealing with children who are ‘hard to place’ - children who are disabled; children who are part of a sibling group; and children from a BME background."

The panel will also hear about the progress of care leavers - young people who have turned 18 and are now leaving care.

This year 63 per cent of care leavers were in education, employment and training, an increase on last year of 57 per cent and far above the England average of 50 per cent.

Ninety per cent were living in "suitable accommodation" an increase on last year figure of 84 per cent.

Six per cent were in higher education, a slight decrease on last year’s figure of seven per cent.

The panel will meet in City Hall at 4.30pm.