9 shows significant regional variation in the rates and numbers of UAS children entering local authority care. The South East shows the highest rate, and the highest increase in UAS children entering care (Figure 19). The considerable increase in numbers in the South East in 2023–24 reflects the July 2023 High Court judgement which deemed that all UAS children arriving in Kent must be looked after by Kent County Council until transferred via the NTS (EPCAT v KCC [2023]). Most other regions are also working with a higher intake of UAS children. Figure 19: Rate of UAS children in care by region Source: SP9 respondents. Rate per 10,000 of the 0–17 population. The vast and increasing majority of UAS children in care are boys; in 2019–20, SP7 data showed around nine UAS boys to every girl in care. In 2023–24, these data show closer to 22 boys for every UAS girl in care. 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 2015–16 2017–18 2019–20 2021–22 2023–24 Phase 5 Phase 6 Phase 7 Phase 8 Phase 9 East Midlands East of England London North-East North-West South-East South-West West Midlands Yorkshire and Humber 52 Table 10: Number of UAS children by gender at period end Source: SP9 respondents. Number extrapolated from 122 respondents. Phase 7 Phase 8 Phase 9 2019–20 2021–22 2023–24 Male 4,500 5,597 6,995 Female 506 353 318 Most (89%) of UAS children in care in 2023–24 are aged 16 plus, with 17-year-olds the age group with the highest number and the biggest rate of increase over time. Table 11: Number of UAS children at period end by age group Source: SP9 respondents. Number extrapolated from 115 respondents. Phase 7 Phase 8 Phase 9 Change over time Change P8 to P9 2019–20 2021–22 2023–24 Under 10 16 9 3 -80% -71% Age 10 2 3 4 -40% 52% Age 11 9 3 3 -88% 2% Age 12 19 19 9 -84% -53% Age 13 41 69 32 -76% 