The government has announced a major drive to increase the number of foster carers in England, unveiling plans to rapidly expand recruitment and strengthen long‑term support for existing carers.
The reforms – set to roll out in the new year – aim to provide more vulnerable children with stable, loving homes amid a growing national shortage of foster placements.
New figures from Ofsted reveal the scale of the challenge: by March 2025, England had 33,435 fostering households, representing a 10% decline since 2021. With fewer families available to offer care, more children have been pushed into residential settings, where outcomes in education, health and long‑term wellbeing are typically poorer. The government said it is determined to reverse this trend and ensure more children can grow up in family‑based homes.
Residential placements, highlighted in the Casey Audit as environments where children can face increased vulnerability to exploitation and abuse, are often used only when fostering options are unavailable. Ministers argue that a stronger, more sustainable fostering system is essential to protecting children and improving life chances across the care sector.
Over the Christmas period, foster families have been sharing powerful stories about the children they support – stories ministers say demonstrate the profound and lasting impact of stable, nurturing care. These testimonies come as the government prepares to advance reforms under the landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, further embedding support for children in care.
Backed by new funding for children’s social care announced at the Spending Review, the upcoming reforms will focus on three core areas:
- Expanding who can become foster carers
- Improving support for existing carers
- Developing innovative fostering models
The government plans to remove unnecessary barriers to entry, opening the door for a wider range of people – including those with full‑time jobs or children of their own – to become foster carers. The aim is to significantly expand the pool of eligible applicants while maintaining high standards of safeguarding and care.
Reforms will introduce stronger, more flexible support so carers can balance fostering with work and family life. Ministers say this is key to improving retention and ensuring experienced foster families feel valued, supported and prepared for the challenges of caring.
In collaboration with frontline practitioners and foster carers themselves, the government will roll out new, evidence‑informed models of fostering to meet the diverse needs of children across the system. These are intended to expand capacity, increase stability and ensure each child receives care that is tailored, consistent and enriching.
The government has emphasised that these measures will not only widen the availability of foster homes but also build a stronger, more durable care system capable of meeting children’s needs both now and in the future.
Josh MacAlister, Minister for Children and Families, said:
“Fostering changes lives – not just for children who need safety, stability and love, but for the families who open their homes to them.
“We know the number of foster carers has been falling, and that is why this government will be taking decisive action to give stable and loving homes to children that need them.
“The festive season highlights the urgent need to get more children in care into loving, supportive homes where they can thrive – I’d urge anyone who has considered fostering to look into signing up.”
Further details on the reforms will be published in early 2026, alongside a public consultation. Officials will continue to work closely with local authorities, fostering agencies and carers to ensure that the 2026 reforms deliver a sustainable, high‑quality fostering system.
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