Survey now open! Tell us about private fostering in your area before 18 July
The Department for Education stopped collecting data about private fostering in 2015 and therefore the number of children who are privately fostered is not known. CoramBAAF would like to support a better understanding of this often hidden group of children, by asking our members about private fostering in their local authority. We know from our discussions with private fostering practitioners that numbers vary around the country. An improved understanding will help local authorities target how they raise awareness in their local communities and across other partner agencies.
In July 2024 CoramBAAF launched our first Private Fostering Survey in an attempt to gather basic data about the national picture from our members. To continue to raise awareness and gather more data, we are hosting another survey until 18 July.
We would like every local authority to complete the survey! We have intentionally kept our questions simple. We hope they are linked to data that local authorities already gather for their own internal recording and reporting purposes and therefore will not be too onerous
Once the survey closes, we will collate the information into a report, publish it on our website and discuss it during Private Fostering Awareness Day on 5 November 2025. We will also share the report with the Department for Education and ask them to consider collecting data about privately fostered children on a national level.
Complete the survey or share the link with the manager who is responsible for private fostering in your area, before the survey closes on 18 July.
For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact clare.seth@corambaaf.org.uk and ann.horne@corambaaf.org.uk.