Fostering
Ofsted’s Latest Fostering Data: What It Means for Carers
If you’re fostering now—or thinking about it—the latest Ofsted and DfE statistics paint a clear picture: demand for family homes remains high while the pool of foster carers is shrinking and ageing. Here’s what the numbers say and how to use that insight to make informed decisions about approval, transfers, fees, training, and support.
The topline: fewer carers, stable demand
Fewer approved carers. Ofsted’s most recent annual release (covering 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024) shows 57,065 approved mainstream foster carers in England, down 4% year-on-year. In the same period, approvals could not offset leavers: 4,055 fostering households were approved while 4,820 stopped fostering, a net loss of 765 households and the third consecutive year of decline.
Need is steady—and complex. The Department for Education (DfE) recorded 83,630 children looked after on 31 March 2024, broadly level with 2023 after many years of growth. Stability at the headline level doesn’t mean less pressure: case complexity, placement matching requirements (sibling groups, teens, UASC, disabilities), and geography continue to drive sufficiency gaps.
Kinship is growing. Within the DfE picture, kinship fostering has risen over five years, reflecting policy focus on family-based care and permanence. That helps capacity overall but does not replace the need for mainstream carers—especially for teenagers and larger sibling groups.
Who’s approving whom—and why it matters
LA vs IFA balance. Of new approvals in 2023–24, local authorities accounted for 45% and IFAs 55%. That is notable because the overall stock of LA mainstream carers remains higher than IFA at any point in time—so the flow of new carers is skewing toward IFAs. For would-be carers, that translates to more choice of routes and more variation in support packages, fees, and training offers.
Market dynamics. IFAs have been taking a larger share of placements over time; scrutiny of cost and outcomes is increasing (from Ofsted, government and the media). For carers, this competition can be positive—clearer support offers and skill-based fee ladders—but it also means you should compare contracts carefully (retainers, respite, mileage, escalation routes).
Recruitment and retention: what’s driving leavers?
Sector evidence highlights three persistent reasons for carers leaving: insufficient remuneration, inconsistent support, and not feeling respected as professionals. The net loss of households over three years reinforces those themes. If you’re already approved, that gives you leverage to review your package—and, where appropriate, explore a transfer.
Local sufficiency documents also show age-band pressure shifting in some areas (for example, rising demand for the very young alongside ongoing need for teens), prompting targeted recruitment, new provider lists, and expanded residential strategies. Understanding your council’s local sufficiency gaps can help you match your training and home to the highest need—and often better fee structures.
What Ofsted changed in the 2024–25 collection (why you should care)
From April 2024–25, Ofsted adjusted what it collects from fostering services—more detail on enquiries and clearer coverage of protected characteristics. Better data should, over time, mean sharper commissioning and more transparent recruitment funnels (from enquiry to approval). For carers, that ought to translate to faster, better-matched referrals and clearer evidence on what support makes placements stable.
Practical implications for carers (and applicants)
1) Expect faster matching—if your profile aligns with local need
With fewer households and steady demand, carers who can take teens, sibling groups, UASC, or children with additional needs will continue to receive frequent referrals. Signal your capacity clearly in your safer caring plan and talk to your SSW about training that expands your matching profile (e.g., therapeutic fostering, de-escalation, supporting neurodiversity).
2) Compare the full package, not just “the rate”
Allowances (for the child’s costs) are only one component. Look at skill fees, retainers, birthday/holiday payments, mileage, 24/7 support, respite, and wrap-around services (education support, therapeutic input). Ask both LA and IFA for a written breakdown and an example weekly statement for typical referrals you could accept. This is where LA vs IFA differences—and your negotiating power—show up.
3) Keep an eye on policy and cost pressures
Care systems are under financial strain—particularly around the cost of residential care—which increases the incentive to stabilise foster placements and reduce moves. Carers who can demonstrate strong recording, partnership with schools, and effective contact management are likely to be prioritised for placements that might otherwise drift toward costlier options.
4) For applicants: pick your route with intent
- Local authority: closer to local networks, education links, and in-house permanence planning.
- IFA: often wider placement geography, potentially higher skill-based fees and specialist training; may be a better fit for complex needs or if you value a specific therapeutic model.
Given the approval flow leaning IFA, you may find shorter wait times for panel dates or faster matching post-approval—but this varies by area.
5) Use the data to shape your training plan
Ofsted/DfE data shows ongoing need for teens and complex placements. Prioritise training with measurable impact: PACE/therapeutic parenting, de-escalation, trauma & attachment, neurodiversity, and recording to court standard. Aligning your CPD with sufficiency gaps helps both children and your earning potential (skill tiers, specialist payments).
What agencies and councils should be telling you (ask these questions)
- Referral clarity: What info do I get before saying yes? Who to call after hours?
- Support: How many supervising social workers per carer? What’s the visiting frequency and access to clinical/education specialists?
- Stability tools: Do you run Mockingbird or equivalent peer-support? What’s your policy on retainers between placements?
- Learning culture: How are allegations supported and how is learning shared?
- Progression: What’s the pathway to parent & child, therapeutic, or step-down fostering (and what are the fee uplifts)?
These specifics matter more than a headline weekly figure because they drive sustainability—the core challenge the statistics highlight.
Reading the room in 2025: cautious optimism
The data is blunt: we’ve lost carers again. But it also clarifies what works. Where carers receive predictable support, respect as professionals, and transparent pay, retention improves. Policies pushing toward family-based care (e.g., kinship) and better data collection should help services use resources more intelligently. For carers, that translates to a simple strategy:
- Know your local need (and pitch your approval to meet it).
- Negotiate a complete support package (beyond allowance).
- Invest in the right training (therapeutic, de-escalation, SEN/education links).
- Keep records to a professional standard (it protects you and the child, and it stabilises placements).
If you’d like, I can tailor these insights into a city-level page (e.g., Fostering in Kent or Hounslow): we’ll pull the latest LA/IFA contact routes, the most in-demand placement types locally, and a clear, up-to-date breakdown of allowance + fee + extras, with internal links to your national guides.