Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what she is doing to remove barriers for people who want to combine work outside the home with fostering.

Foster carers play a vital role in supporting some of our most vulnerable children and it is right that they receive the support they need to meet the needs of the children they look after.

We have introduced the foster-family-friendly employer policy, with the Department for Education leading by example in ensuring support and flexibility for its employees who foster. The National Fostering Stocktake, a comprehensive review of the fostering system, is also underway. The Stocktake is looking at a wide range of issues including the recruitment and retention of foster carers and the support foster carers receive. The reviewers will report to my hon. Friend the Minister for Children and Families with recommendations at the end of the year. Foster carers are also able to access the universal 15 hours of free childcare.