HALF of Reading's former children in care are not in education, work or training by early adulthood, figures reveal.

As the number of children looked after by local authorities continues to climb, charities say falling adoption rates mean many youngsters are missing out on loving homes.

New Department for Education data shows 48 care leavers now aged 19 to 21 in Reading were not in education, employment or training in 2018-19.

They represented 49 per cent of the area's cared-for cohort – much higher than the 39 per cent average across England.

The figures cover young adults who were under local authority care for at least 13 weeks following their 14th birthday, and for some time after they turned 16.

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Of these care leavers in Reading, 13 were classed as NEETs – not in education, employment or training – due to disability or illness, and 11 due to pregnancy or parenting.

Unspecified "other reasons" accounted for the remainder.

Across England, 29,900 care leavers were aged between 19 and 21 last year.

Nearly two in five were classed as NEETs – nearly 11,600 young adults.

This compares to 12 per cent of all 19 to 21 year olds in the country.

While the number of children looked after across the country continues to rise, the proportion of those who are adopted has fallen in recent years.

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Nearly 3,600 children under local authority care were adopted last year, down from a peak of 5,360 in 2015.

Sue Armstrong Brown, chief executive of charity Adoption UK, said: "We urgently need to see improvements in the way adopters are recruited, trained and supported to ensure these vulnerable children find the loving, stable homes they deserve.

"There is no right number of adoptions.

"However, the decline in recent years, despite the number of children coming into care increasing, has been a cause for concern for all."

The chief executive of children's charity Coram, Carol Homden, shared these concerns.

"There are more singles and same-sex couples adopting now, and timescales for children adopted are still good, however those not yet adopted are waiting longer," she added.

"This dichotomy indicates a need to recruit more adopters and improve child centred planning to ensure all children have the security and love they need."