Summary: Uses local authority level children’s social care data and survey responses to evaluate the impact of safeguarding activities and associated budget pressures. Explores areas of focus important for planning and delivering children’s services, including: the extent to which children and young people come back into social care services subsequent times; and changes in funding for children’s services. Findings include: initial contacts, referrals and children becoming subjects of a child protection plan continue to rise; and 79 per cent of respondents reported universal and early help services were becoming more targeted, or ending completely, largely due to funding cuts.