The number of children in care in Stoke-on-Trent is falling again, new figures show.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is currently looking after 1,049 vulnerable youngsters, down from a peak of 1,156 in 2023/24.

The first half of last year saw a slight uptick in the figures, but the downward trend has now resumed. However, Stoke-on-Trent remains well above its 'statistical neighbours', which have an average of 585 children in care.

The high numbers of looked after children in Stoke-on-Trent is a major factor behind the city council's financial problems and the main reason the authority has required more than £60 million of exceptional financial support over the last three years.

According to a report to the children and family services scrutiny committee, the city council is seeing 'positive progress' in adoptions and reunifications, helping to reduce the numbers in care.

Neil Mcdonald, corporate director for children and family services, said: "There has been a continuing safe decline in the overall number of children in care.

"That's a result of a slowdown in the number of children entering care, and an increase in the number of children who are being discharged from care. Alongside that will be children who age out of the system when they turn 18."

The council has seen an increase in the average children's social work caseload, which Mr Mcdonald said was due to rise in the number of child protection plans and difficulty in recruiting to certain roles.

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But there has been an improvement in short-term placement stability, with just 8.7 per cent of children experiencing three or more moves in a 12-month period, down from 10 per cent in 2024/25. Anthony Wild, director of corporate parenting, told the committee this is a 'good news story'.

He said: "Obviously it's a concern if children are experiencing multiple moves. The average across the country is around 10 per cent, and we ended the year on about 8.7 per cent.

"So it's a good performance. We did a lot of work over the last 12 months on supporting foster carers, and trying to identify problems earlier so there can be the right support in place. There's always more we can do but it's moving in the right direction."

Scrutiny committee members welcomed the figures, which were included in the latest corporate measures report. Committee vice-chair Shaun Pender said: "It looks like things are moving in the right direction."