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BACKGROUND NOTES

1. The survey forms and guidance notes for data presented in this publication, and previous years' publications, can be seen at www.scotland.gov.uk/childrenstats .
2. Although all local authorities supplied data, some were unable to provide information for every table. The larger omissions are listed below:

• Falkirk were unable to provide any information on children starting to be looked after. Falkirk's figures from 2006-07 have been carried forward for these tables.
• Fife were unable to provide any information on children ceasing to be looked after, or a breakdown of the number of placements of those looked after on 31 ^st March. Fife's figures from 2006-07 have been carried forward for the tables on children ceasing to be looked after, and in Table 1.9 the total number of children looked after has been included as "not known".
• Falkirk and North Lanarkshire were unable to provide any information on children ceasing to be looked after above minimum school leaving age. Figures from 2006-07 have been carried forward for these tables.
• Renfrewshire were unable to provide figures on young people eligible for aftercare services. Renfrewshire's figures from 2006-07 have been carried forward for these tables.
  
  In addition, there were a few minor omissions by other local authorities, which are footnoted in the relevant tables. In most cases, figures have been recorded as "not known" based on totals in other tables.

3. Figures previously published for 2006-07 have been revised to include amendments that a few local authorities provided after the 2006-07 publication. Revised data can be found in Tables A1 to A6. Changes to the data are described in paragraphs 19 to 21 above.
4. Tables 1.4, 1.14, 2.2 and A5 show numbers of children looked after under "other" statute. Examples of "other" include external housing support, English statutes, and the following sections from the Children (Scotland) Act 1995: 38(a)(1); 29;33;56(4)(b); 70(3)(b); 66(1); 22.
5. Tables 1.8, 1.22, 2.3 and 3.3 show number of children looked after by accommodation. "Other community" includes supported accommodation/semi-independent living, supported tenancy, own tenancy/independent living, hostel, "Leaving Care Services", placed with carers from adult services, and "throughcare and aftercare". "Other residential" includes close support unit, intensive support unit, residential units outwith the local authority, homeless unit, private or NHS home, emergency accommodation, hospital, Spark of Genius, Quarriers, residential home, and other specific residential establishments and purchased placements.
6. Tables 1.16, 1.23 and 2.6 show number of children by destination on discharge. Examples of 'other' include emergency accommodation, temporary accommodation, and offenders hostel.
7. Tables 1.23-1.28 and 3.6 show young people eligible for aftercare services. For details of young people's eligibility for aftercare, see regulations and guidance at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/03/19113/34719 .
8. No information on qualifications of care leavers was collected this year. This is because improvements are being made in the way information on looked after children is collected, which will enable more accurate figures on attainment of looked after children to be produced in the future. More information on this project can be found at http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/lookedafterchildren/about/datareporting/introduction.asp
9. This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.
10. Public enquiries ( non-media) about the information contained in this Publication Notice should be addressed to Gary Sutton at:

Telephone: 0131 244 1690
e-mail: children.statistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

11. Media enquiries about the information in this Statistics Publication Notice should be addressed to Brendan Rooney on 0131 244 2960.
12. If you would like to be consulted about new or existing statistical collections or receive notification of forthcoming statistical publications, please register your interest on the Scottish Government ScotStat website at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/scotstat .

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