Private fostering information for professionals

Professionals play an important role in helping families understand when they need to notify the council about a private fostering arrangement. This page provides:

• information about what private fostering is
• information about how to notify us of a private fostering arrangement
• resources you can use to raise awareness in your organisation or community

About private fostering

A parent can arrange for someone else to care for their child or children. When they do this, it is known as private fostering. The person looking after their children is known as a private foster carer.

Private fostering:

• only applies to children younger than 16 years (or 18 years if they have a disability)
• is a private arrangement between a parent and someone else, the council is not involved
• is when the child lives away from home for 28 days in a row (or more)
• the person taking care of them is not:
  • another parent
  • a grandparent
  • a brother or sister
  • an aunt or uncle
  • a step-parent
  • their approved foster carer

Many people are unaware that these arrangements must be reported to the council by law. This means children and families miss out on valueable support.

How to tell us about a private fostering arrangement

Fill in the form and return it to private.fostering@bracknell-forest.gov.uk to tell us about a private fostering arrangement.

Resources

Use the resources below to help us raise awareness of private fostering and help children and families get the support they need.

Newsletters

Screensavers