What is private fostering?

If you are looking after someone else's child aged under 16 (under 18, if disabled) full time for 28 days or more, and you are not the step-parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister of that child, then you may be a private foster carer.

The law says you must tell your local council if you care for a child under a private fostering arrangement.

It is not private fostering if the arrangement was made by social services.

Examples of private fostering situations include:

• Children and teenagers living apart from their families for a variety of reasons eg a parent is ill, has had to temporarily move for work or there has been an argument within the family
• Children with parents working or studying elsewhere in the UK
• Children with parents overseas
• Children on holiday exchanges

Private Fostering Case Studies