Fostering
Fostering in Windsor and Maidenhead: Allowances, Agencies and How to Apply
Thinking about becoming a foster carer in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM)? You’re in a great place to start. Children’s services here are delivered by Achieving for Children (AfC) on behalf of the council, which means you get a well-established local authority fostering team, training, and wraparound support—plus a clear route to begin your application.
Below is a practical, up-to-date guide to allowances, the agencies you can foster with (local authority and independent), and the exact steps to apply—including who to contact, what to expect from the assessment, and how long it typically takes.
Fostering allowances in Windsor and Maidenhead (2025/26)
England’s national minimum fostering allowance is set centrally and then adjusted by region and child’s age. For the 2025/26 tax year (6 April 2025–5 April 2026), the government confirms the following weekly minimums:
- South East (RBWM’s region):
- Age 0–2: £189
- Age 3–4: £196
- Age 5–10: £216
- Age 11–15: £247
- Age 16–17: £288
These figures are the minimum a local authority or agency must pay to cover the day-to-day cost of caring (food, clothing, transport, household bills, etc.). In January 2025, the Department for Education announced a 3.55% uplift to England’s minimum for 2025/26, which is reflected in the rates above.
What else is usually covered?
Most fostering services also provide additional payments at set times (e.g., birthdays, religious festivals, holidays) and may reimburse mileage, equipment, and other allowable expenses. Policies vary by council/agency; AfC publishes a Fees and Allowances policy each year outlining extras like set-up costs and welcome payments for newly approved carers.
Why do some carers earn more than the minimum?
Alongside the allowance, many schemes pay skill-level or professional fees based on training, experience, or placement complexity (e.g., therapeutic, parent-and-child, or emergency care). Some independent fostering agencies (IFAs) pay higher combined packages, but you should weigh this against support, training style, and the types of placements you want. (Examples from national IFAs show typical bands above minimums.)
Who provides fostering in Windsor and Maidenhead?
Local authority fostering (Achieving for Children)
RBWM’s fostering is run by Achieving for Children, which also delivers children’s services for Kingston and Richmond. AfC recruits, trains, and supports local foster carers for children from the community—keeping them close to schools, friends, and family where possible.
How to contact AfC about fostering (Windsor & Maidenhead):
- Single Point of Access (SPA): 01628 683150 (advice/enquiries).
- Fostering enquiries: AfC’s fostering team provides a regional front door and can be reached via their contact page (phone 0300 131 2797) or by email, with links to the Local Authority Fostering South East hub.
- RBWM also signposts fostering enquiries via council pages and AfC Info.
Independent fostering agencies (IFAs)
There are several IFAs serving Berkshire and West London. IFAs are regulated by Ofsted and typically provide a different model of support and fee structure. If you’re exploring IFAs:
- Check their most recent Ofsted inspection and Statement of Purpose.
- Compare training, out-of-hours support, placement mix, and allowance+fee packages. (National examples show higher weekly packages than the minimum; specifics vary.) ISP Fostering+1
Types of fostering you can offer locally
Short-term and emergency
Short-term care supports children while plans are clarified—reunification, kinship care, or longer-term matching. Emergency carers take urgent, usually same-day placements.
Long-term/permanence
When a court decides a child cannot return home, long-term fostering provides stability through to adulthood, often within the local community and schools.
Respite (short breaks)
You care for a child for an agreed period (e.g., weekends or holidays) to provide a break for a full-time carer or family.
Therapeutic fostering
For children with significant trauma or additional needs, you’ll receive specialist training, close supervision, and (often) enhanced fees.
Parent and child (P&C)
You support a parent and their baby/child placed together—observing and recording parenting capacity for the local authority and court. Payments are usually higher due to the assessment element.
(AfC and many IFAs offer combinations of the above; ask about current local demand.)
How to apply: step-by-step for Windsor and Maidenhead
1) Initial enquiry and information call
Contact Achieving for Children to discuss your situation, household, and the types of fostering that suit your availability and skills. You’ll get details about training, support, and payments—and be invited to an information event (online or in person).
2) Home visit and pre-assessment checks
A social worker visits to explore your home, support network, routines, and reasons for fostering. They’ll explain the assessment, typical timelines, and documents you’ll need.
3) Training: “Skills to Foster”
You’ll complete AfC’s preparation course covering attachment, trauma-informed care, safer caring, education and health, recording, and working with birth families.
4) Form F assessment (home study)
This structured assessment examines your background, household, parenting capacity, and safeguarding. It includes:
- DBS (criminal record) and medical checks
- References (personal/employment)
- Health & safety review (bedroom rules, pets, vehicles, etc.)
- Your safer caring policy and support network plan
Form F leads to a comprehensive report reviewing your suitability, strengths, and recommended approval range (e.g., ages, number of children, placement types).
5) Fostering panel and decision
You’ll meet a multi-disciplinary panel that reviews your Form F. They recommend to the agency decision maker, who makes the final decision. If approved, you’re registered and ready for matching.
6) Matching and first placement
AfC or your chosen IFA will contact you about children whose needs match your profile. You’ll review referral information, ask questions, and agree a plan—including contact, schooling, health, and allowances/fees.
How long does it take?
Timescales vary, but a typical route from first enquiry to panel is 4–6 months, depending on availability for training, the speed of checks, and diary coordination. (Ask AfC about current local timelines when you enquire.)
Essential local requirements to check before you apply
Spare bedroom and home environment
Children in foster care generally need their own bedroom (exceptions are tightly defined, such as some sibling arrangements). Your home risk assessment looks at space, pets, ponds, fire safety, and road access.
Work and availability
You can foster while working, especially for certain types (respite/short-breaks or older school-age children), but you’ll need time for school runs, meetings, and contact. Ask about local demand and realistic availability.
Health, references and DBS
AfC will complete DBS checks on you and adult household members and request a GP medical to confirm fitness to foster.
Driving and transport
A driving licence and access to a car are very helpful in RBWM due to school runs, contact, and appointments across Berkshire/West London.
What support will you get in Windsor and Maidenhead?
Supervision, out-of-hours and training
You’ll have a named supervising social worker, regular supervision, 24/7 support, and access to ongoing training (therapeutic approaches, PACE, de-escalation, safer internet use, etc.).
Education and health
Foster carers work closely with the Virtual School, SENCOs and health teams. You’ll help maintain PEPs (Personal Education Plans) and ensure GP, dentist, optician and immunisations are up to date.
Extras, reimbursements and equipment
Expect guidance on what’s covered in the allowance vs what’s reimbursable (e.g., mileage, contact travel, essential equipment). AfC’s policy outlines set-up and other one-off payments.
Fostering allowances vs fees—how to compare offers
When comparing AfC (local authority) with IFAs, look beyond headline weekly figures:
1) Support model & stability
Consider supervision frequency, therapeutic supervision, and access to specialists.
2) Placement mix
Ask which ages/needs are most in demand locally; this affects frequency and length of placements.
3) Expenses & extras
Check birthday/holiday/festival policies, mileage, equipment, and respite entitlements (and whether they’re included or on top of weekly rates). Examples from other councils show structured holiday/festival payments on top of weekly allowances; policies differ.
4) Training & progression
Some schemes pay skill-level fees as you complete training and gain experience. Others offer welcome payments or retention bonuses—always verify in the written policy.
Tax and money matters for foster carers
Most foster carers use Qualifying Care Relief (QCR), a HMRC scheme that makes your fostering income either tax-free or low-tax. In brief, you receive a fixed annual relief plus a weekly amount per child, and you’ll complete Self Assessment each year. Ask AfC or your IFA for a QCR explainer and keep simple income/expense records for returns. (See GOV.UK’s guide alongside your agency’s handbook.)
How to start today (Windsor & Maidenhead)
Step 1: Make an enquiry
- Call SPA (Windsor & Maidenhead): 01628 683150 to be routed to the fostering team.
- Or contact AfC’s fostering team via their regional contact page (phone 0300 131 2797) to request an info pack or book an information event.
Step 2: Book an information event
These sessions explain roles, allowances, training, and support—and you can talk to current carers about day-to-day fostering in RBWM.
Step 3: Prepare your home and documents
Line up IDs, references, landlord consent (if renting), and notes on your support network. If you’re unsure about spare-room requirements or pets, ask at the home visit.
Step 4: Choose your route (LA vs IFA)
If you also speak to IFAs, compare support, training, fees, and placement demand. Always check latest Ofsted judgments and fee/allowance policies in writing.
Frequently asked local questions
Do I need to live in Windsor and Maidenhead to foster for AfC?
You’ll need to live within a reasonable radius for school runs, contact, and meetings. Many carers live in or near RBWM and surrounding Berkshire/West London areas (check at enquiry).
Can single people or renters foster?
Yes—what matters is stability, a spare bedroom, and a supportive network. Renters usually need landlord consent.
How do allowances work during school holidays or contact?
Your weekly allowance continues while a child is placed. Holiday/festival payments are usually additional and scheduled annually; check AfC’s policy for the exact amounts and timing.
I’ve heard IFAs pay more—should I switch?
Some IFAs pay higher combined packages, but weigh support quality, training, matching, and distance for contacts/schools. Read Ofsted reports and compare policies before deciding.
Final word
Fostering in Windsor and Maidenhead means joining a strong local network through Achieving for Children—with clear training, 24/7 support, and allowances aligned to national minimums (plus extras). Whether you choose the local authority or an independent agency, the key is finding the support model and placement types that fit your household and strengths.