nse rate): All local authorities received an email containing a data collection template inviting them to participate in the research. The 81 data returns were completed by local authorities in Excel documents and collated by the researchers. Interviews (34 interviews): Interviews were conducted with directors of children’s services in 34 local authorities during July and August 2024. Table 13: Regional breakdown of survey responses, data returns and interviews14 Region (total LAs in region) No. survey responses No. data returns No. of interviews North East (12) 7 10 5 North West (24) 9 15 4 Yorkshire & Humber (15) 10 15 3 West Midlands (14) 7 12 2 East Midlands (10) 4 8 6 East of England (11) 8 10 2 London (33) 17 25 5 South East (19) 14 18 4 South West (15) 10 11 3 Table 14: Ofsted judgements of authorities involved in interviews at the time of interview Ofsted judgement No. of authorities Outstanding 9 Good 11 Requires improvement 9 Inadequate 5 Table 15 below outlines the numbers of local authorities participating in different areas of data collection. Table 15: Local authorities’ participation in the three forms of data collection 14 In the East Midlands two authorities returned one joint submission. 82 Area of data collection No. of authorities Survey, data return and DCS interview 18 Survey and data return 59 Data return and DCS interview 11 Survey and DCS interview 1 Data return only 36 Survey only 8 Interview only 4 Table 16: Outlines the number of authorities by region which were not involved in any areas of data collection Region No. of authorities North East 1 North West 7 Yorkshire and Humber 0 West Midlands 1 East Midlands 1 East of England 0 London 4 South East 0 South West 1 7.3 Notes on quantitative data analysis methods and charts • Rebased local autho