Children's Services Market Report: June 2026

The Month in One Line

June 2026 marked the month placement cost pressure and Ofsted improvement notices combined to produce the highest single-month children's services procurement volume since 2021.

What Moved in June

Fostering agency procurement: eighteen councils published independent fostering agency (IFA) framework procurement in June. The Competition and Markets Authority's children's social care market review recommendations are now embedded in procurement requirements — all new IFA frameworks must include placement cost transparency provisions. Average IFA day rate in new frameworks: £112, up from £94 in June 2025.

CAMHS and mental health: NHS England's mental health investment standard requires ICBs to increase CAMHS spending. Fourteen ICBs published CAMHS service procurement in June, covering community CAMHS, eating disorder services, and crisis and home treatment teams.

Short breaks and respite: following the Children and Families Act revised guidance, 22 councils published short breaks service procurement in June. Services for children with learning disabilities and autism are in greatest demand.

Early years and SEND: the SEND and AP Improvement Plan implementation is producing significant procurement. Eight councils published alternative provision, tuition, and specialist SEND support procurement in June.

Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC): the national transfer scheme is producing accommodation and support procurement across 31 receiving authorities. Average contract value: £2.8m per authority over 2 years.

Who Is Buying Right Now

• Councils under Ofsted improvement notices: 14 councils with children's services rated Inadequate or Requires Improvement are in active procurement to improve provision.
• ICBs: CAMHS and children's mental health is now an ICB commissioning responsibility. All 42 ICBs have active or planned children's mental health procurement.
• DfE Regional Directors: alternative provision academy and AP free school commissioning is led by DfE regional directors, not councils.

Forward Signals for July

DfE SEND review implementation Phase 2 guidance publishes in July. This will affect how councils commission specialist SEND support — expect a wave of procurement reviews in Q3.

The Number That Matters

£112/day — average IFA foster placement rate in new June 2026 frameworks, up 19% year-on-year. The placement cost pressure is real and sustained.

AtlasRevenue monitors children's services procurement across all 153 councils and 42 ICBs daily. Run a scan to see which authorities in your area are actively commissioning.