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The UK government is preparing to launch a comprehensive plan to address the urgent shortage of foster carers across England, aiming to provide more stable and supportive homes for vulnerable children in care.
As part of a broader initiative to reform the fostering system, the government has committed to reversing the recent decline in the number of fostering households. This decline, highlighted in the latest Ofsted figures, shows a 10% drop in the number of foster households since 2021, with just 33,435 fostering homes recorded by the end of March 2025. The new reforms are designed to significantly boost foster carer recruitment and retention to help meet the growing need for placements.
Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister, emphasised the importance of fostering, stating, "Fostering changes lives—not just for children who need safety, stability, and love, but for the families who open their homes to them."
One of the key drivers of the reforms is the increasing concern about the limited availability of foster homes, which has led to more children being placed in residential care. This type of placement often leads to worse outcomes in areas such as education, health, and long-term stability, as well as increasing the vulnerability of children to exploitation and abuse. These challenges were outlined in the Casey Audit, which revealed the detrimental effects of the lack of sufficient foster care options.
The new reforms, set to be introduced early in 2026, will be backed by additional funding for children’s social care, as announced in the government’s recent Spending Review. Among the key measures are:
Expanding eligibility for fostering by removing unnecessary barriers, allowing more individuals - including those with full-time jobs or families of their own - to become foster carers.
Improved support for carers to help them balance fostering with their personal and professional commitments, ensuring a more sustainable fostering experience.
Innovative fostering models that draw on insights from both foster carers and frontline social care practitioners, ensuring that more flexible and effective models of care are developed.
These reforms are designed not only to increase the number of available foster placements but also to ensure that existing foster carers receive better support, enabling them to continue providing high-quality care for children.
The government is set to launch a consultation on these reforms in early 2026, with further details to be outlined in the coming months.
Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner, stressed the need for every child in care to have access to the same opportunities as other children. "Children in care deserve loving relationships, a safe home, and the support needed to achieve their full potential," she said. "No child should be considered too complex for foster care, and we must work to ensure that all children have access to high-quality placements."
The government is calling on potential foster carers to come forward, particularly during the festive season, when children in care can experience heightened feelings of loneliness and uncertainty. Foster carers play a critical role in providing stability during such times, and the government is committed to providing ongoing support, including fostering allowances, training, and advice networks.
Amy Burns, founder of Messy Fostering, shared her own experience of being fostered at 14, highlighting the power of unconventional family structures. "The simple truth is that fostering saved my life – It wasn’t easy, but I was finally safe," she explained.
The government's commitment to reforming the fostering system comes at a crucial time, as local authorities, fostering agencies, and carers work together to build a sustainable and effective system for the future. Through these reforms, the government aims to create a fostering environment that can meet the needs of vulnerable children across the country and ensure that every child in care has the opportunity to thrive in a loving, supportive home.
