Safeguarding
Understanding Private Fostering
Know when a child living with a family friend is privately fostered, and why your DSL needs to know even if nothing seems wrong.
- 12 minutes
- 6 modules
- 0.5 CPD hours
- Certificate
Members
14 days free, then £70 a year or £7 a month.
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What you'll learn
- Recognise a private fostering arrangement using the 28-day rule
- Tell which relatives count as close family and which don't
- Understand why children are privately fostered and the risks it can carry
- Report any private fostering arrangement to your DSL, even if the child seems safe
About this course
A pupil mentions they're staying with a friend's family for a while. It may be a kind arrangement between neighbours. But if it's meant to last 28 days or more and the carer isn't a close relative, it's private fostering, and the local authority needs to know about it.
This course makes the definition easy to hold on to, including who counts as a close relative and who doesn't. You'll understand why children end up privately fostered, such as a parent's illness, a housing crisis or coming from overseas to study, and the cases where the arrangement is itself abuse, like trafficking. Victoria Climbié was living in a private fostering arrangement when she died, and her case is the reason the rules changed.
Your part is simple. Tell your DSL, even if you think the child is safe and well looked after.
- For early career teachers, governors and 7 other roles. All phases. England only.
6 modules
Open in order
- 2 min
Introduction
- 2 min
What is ‘private fostering’?
1 question
- 4 min
Why are some children privately fostered?
1 question
- 3 min
Why do we need to understand what private fostering is?
1 question
- 2 min
What should you do if you think a child is being privately fostered?
1 question
- 2 min
Wrap up