Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to take steps to equalise (a) allowances given to foster and kinship families, (b) leave entitlements for foster and kinship families, (c) support available for children in kinship care and children in care and (d) access to training and support for kinship carers and foster carers.

Where a child cannot live with their birth family, local authorities have a legal duty to first consider family and friend carers. This may not always the best placement for the child, and the child may therefore be placed in the care of the local authority.

Statutory guidance on family and friends care, issued to local authorities in England, makes clear that children and young people should receive the support that they and their carers need to safeguard and promote their welfare. There is no limit on the level of support, including financial support, that local authorities can provide. All local authorities should have in place clear eligibility criteria in relation to the provision of support services for family and friend carers.

Foster carers, whether connected persons or unrelated, are entitled to an allowance to cover the costs of caring for a child. The ’Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards,’ set out the expectations that are placed on foster carers and their agencies in England. The national minimum standards set out that all foster carers should receive at least the national minimum allowance plus any agreed expenses to cover the full cost of caring for each child placed with them. These standards can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/192705/NMS_Fostering_Services.pdf.

The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care made a set of bold and ambitious recommendations which seek to improve the financial and practical support kinship carers receive. These include recommendations on a financial allowance, a leave entitlement, and support and training for kinship carers.

The department is due to respond to these recommendations in early 2023.