Private Fostering

Private Fostering is a private arrangement made by a child’s parent (or someone with parental responsibility) for the child to live with someone who is not a close relative (grandparent, sibling, biological uncle or aunt, or step-parent by marriage or civil partnership.

• Private Fostering only applies to children under the age of 16 years old (or under 18 if they have a disability).
• It doesn’t apply to children in the care of grandparents, aunts and uncles, adult brothers or sisters or step parents.
• It does apply to children living with the parents of friends, living with a parent’s ex-partner, with wider family such as adult cousins, or with friends of the family.
• Private Fostering only applies if the arrangement lasts, or is expected to last, for more than 28 days.

There are a range of resources available to download for use when dealing with a child or young person who is or who you suspect is in a private fostering arrangement. There are leaflets which you can print which have been developed to explain this arrangement to parents and carers, and age appropriate leaflets for children under the age of 11 years and young people over the age of 11 years.