Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Acknowledged
Establish a national fostering strategy, consult on national register, and review financial support.
Conclusion
The Department for Education must put in place a national fostering strategy to complement the existing strategies for adoption and kinship care. As part of this, it should consult on introducing a national register of foster carers and review the financial support available to ensure that it is adequate to meet their needs. (Recommendation, Paragraph 73)
Government Response Summary
The government is considering a national register of foster carers and will engage stakeholders, but has not committed to introducing one. They state they already annually review and uplift the National Minimum Allowance for foster carers, and do not explicitly address a national fostering strategy.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
As part of our reforms to foster care, we are considering the potential costs and benefits of a national register of foster carers. There are a range of proposals for such a register, each requiring careful consideration. We would need to ensure that a national foster care register would also meet local needs and avoid unforeseen negative consequences, for example, concerning the security of sensitive data and the impact of additional bureaucracy on the sector. We will engage with fostering stakeholders on this issue to determine next steps. Foster carers should not be financially disadvantaged by carrying out their fostering role. All foster carers receive the National Minimum Allowance to cover the costs of looking after the children in their care. We review and uplift the rate of the allowance each year, considering inflation and earnings, alongside affordability to local government, to ensure that foster carers are not out of pocket. In the financial year 2025/26, the allowance was uplifted by 3.55%.