Private Fostering
Private fostering is the term used when someone who is not a parent or a ‘close relative’ (e.g. great aunt, cousin, mum’s friend or a neighbour) is looking after a child or young person under the age of 16 (under 18 if they are disabled) for 28 days or more in their own home. It also covers children who stay at a residential school for more than two weeks of the school holidays.
A relative is defined in the Children Act 1989 as a grandparent, uncle, or aunt (whether by full-blood, half-blood or by marriage or civil partnership), sibling or step-parent.
More Information
What Support is Available
- advice on benefits and possible funding for some essential items
- parenting support and advice
- help in bringing families in crisis back together
What to do
If you are a parent/carer/family member or practitioner notify Newcastle Children’s Social Care, Initial Response Service on 0191 277 2500 and let them know about the Private Fostering arrangement. A social worker will be assigned to support the child and family.
Common situations in which children are privately fostered
- Children with parents or families overseas
- Children with parents working or studying in the UK
- Asylum seekers and refugees
- Trafficked children
- Local children living apart from their families
- Adolescents and teenagers
- Children attending language schools
- Children at independent boarding schools who do not return home for holidays
- Children brought in from abroad with a view to adoption