Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the use of retainer fees in increasing foster carer retention.

Fostering is a challenging role that requires skill and dedication from those who foster. Recruiting and retaining foster parents with the skills, motivation and resilience to meet the diverse needs of the children in their care is crucial.

Whilst the department has not assessed the use of retainer fees specifically in increasing retention, the National Fostering Stocktake, an independent review of the fostering system in England, considered the recruitment and retention of foster parents. The department will carefully consider any recommendations made by the review and by the Education Select Committee. The government’s response will be published this spring.