Six out of every 10 'care leavers' in Hertfordshire are in education, employment or training (EET), according to the county council (HCC).

The 60.6% EET rate is described by council officers as "a really strong performance" – good enough to put HCC in the top quarter of local authorities across the country.

But at a meeting of the children's social care cabinet panel on Monday (March 16), concerns were raised about the remaining four in 10.

According to data presented to the panel, 479 of 791 care leavers, aged 17 to 21, were in EET at the end of December, up from 55.7% at the end of December 2024. The rate has remained above 60% for four consecutive quarters.

Cllr Miriam Swainston (Lib Dem, Bishop's Stortford West) raised concerns about the rest.

"I just find it really worrying that we're in the top quartile for care leavers in education, employment and training," she told councillors. "Because that means that nationally more than 40% are not, and you just wonder what on earth are they doing."

According to the report, 142 of the 791 young care leavers had not been available to the labour market or learning due to illness, disability, immigration status or parenting responsibilities.

HCC's executive director of children's services, Jo Fisher, highlighted the support offered by the county's Virtual School and Services for Young People.

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Every care leaver is allocated a personal adviser to support then in accessing EET as well as suitable accommodation. They are offered further support that includes advice and guidance, work placements and independent living skills, as well as with employability skills, including CVs, employability and interview skills.

Executive member for children's social care Cllr Anthony Rowlands (Lib Dem, St Albans East) referenced changes such as eligibility for bus passes, enabling care leavers to get to their places of training and employment.

While the EET rate was now "steadier" above 60%, he stressed that they wanted it to be higher.

The panel was told that the number of care leavers and 'looked after' young people who were not in education, employment or training (NEET) for six months or longer in December was just 15 (3.6%). But it was not told the age range of these care leavers.

The proportion of young people in Hertfordshire who are NEET increased from 1.6% at the end of last September to 2.9% in December.

Among 16- to 18-year-olds with special educational needs or a disability who have an education, health and care plan (EHCP) the rate was 8.8% – 145 of the 1,646 young people with EHCPs – up from 6.2% atthe end of September.