These national minimum standards (NMS) apply to local authority fostering services, independent fostering agencies and voluntary organisations.

The NMS are issued for use by Ofsted who take them into account in the inspection of fostering services. The NMS, together with regulations relevant to the placement of children in foster care, such as the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, form the basis of the regulatory framework under the Care Standards Act 2000 (CSA) for the conduct of fostering services.

These standards come into force on 1 April 2011.