Private fostering

Private fostering is when a child under 16 (or 18 if they're disabled) goes to live with an adult who is not a close family member for 28 days or more. 

The arrangement is made by the parents, carers and sometimes the child or young person. 

It is not made by the council. A privately fostered child is therefore not in the care of the local authority.

You must tell the council if you've arranged private fostering or you could be prosecuted.

It is not a private fostering arrangement if a child is living with a:

• parent or step-parent (by marriage only)
• aunt or uncle, brother or sister, grandparent (whether full or half-blood, or by marriage)
• foster carer approved by us

Private fostering can include:

• children or young people who are sent to the UK for education or healthcare by their birth parents from overseas
• teenagers living with a friend's family because they do not get on with their own family
• children living with a friend's family because their parents study or work unsociable hours making it hard to use usual day care or after-school care
• children staying with another family because their parents have divorced or separated, or are in hospital or prison
• a child from overseas staying with a host family while attending school
• overseas students at boarding school who stay with a host family during the holidays

Parents, carers and local authorities must promote the welfare of children who are privately fostered.

You can claim 100% Council Tax relief as a foster carer.