The Fostering Network
Home
0800 0407675
  • About us
  • Thinking of fostering?
  • Already fostering?
  • Resources
  • Fostering Services

About us

Want to learn more about Fosterline? 

Learn more
  • What we stand for
  • Contact us
  • FAQs about Fosterline
  • Job vacancies

Thinking of fostering?

If you are thinking of fostering, we have a range of information for you to explore. 

Learn more
  • What is fostering?
  • Why foster?
  • Who can foster?
  • How do I become a foster carer?
  • Fostering quiz
  • Preparing to foster guide
  • Find a Fostering Service
  • Events

Already fostering?

We have a range of information to support you throughout your fostering journey. 

Discover more
  • Preparing to welcome a child into your home
  • Safeguarding
  • Facing an allegation
  • Celebrating and supporting diversity
  • Caring for a child with a disability
  • Caring for an autistic child
  • Attachment and fostering
  • Fostering legislation
  • Fostering and education
  • Fostering and finances
    • Fostering and tax
    • Fostering and National Insurance
    • Tax and other types of caring
    • Registering as self-employed
    • Completing a tax return
    • Fostering and benefits
    • Free childcare
  • Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
  • Training for foster carers
  • Advocacy for children and young people
  • Contact (family time)
  • Facing challenges
  • Complaints to fostering services
  • Transferring fostering services
  • Terms, reviews, and resignation
  • Fostering with pets
  • Fostering and insurance
  • Leaving care

Resources

We have a range of further resources for both current and prospective foster carers. 

See more
  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Preparing to foster guide
  • Counselling
  • Other useful organisations

Fostering Services

Learn more about how we can support fostering services.

Learn more
  • Supporting foster carers
  • Recruitment and retention of foster carers

Our locations

  • England
  • Wales
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland

Connect with us

Facebook X Instagram LinkedIn
Please enter a search term

Useful pages

Find a fostering service Types of fostering Fostering and finances Contact us
Home Page Already fostering? Fostering and finances

Free childcare

Free childcare hours are available to working parents for children from 9 months to 4 years who meet the criteria. Fostering is recognized as qualifying work to enable foster carers (in the case of a couple both must meet the criteria) to apply for the childcare hours in relation to their birth children and children for whom they have legal parental responsibility.

 

Girls Hugging

The additional hours are being rolled out in stages from:

  • April 2024: eligible parents of two year olds can access 15 hours per week during term times (38 weeks).
  • September 2024: 15 hours will be extended to eligible working parents of children from 9 months to 3 years during term times.
  • September 2025: eligible working parents of pre-school children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare during term times.

It may be possible to use fewer hours per week for up to 52 weeks or to purchase top up hours; check with the child care provider.

See details of when and how you should apply on the government site, here.

In the meantime, all parents of 2, 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours support and if the child is 3 or 4 and if the parent (and their partner if applicable) are working they may be eligible for an additional 15 hours to bring the total to 30 hours.

Under a separate scheme, if the foster carer is on certain benefits they may be able to get help with child care costs of their own children up to 85% see link below for more information.

You can read more information in this article from MoneyHelper, here. 

Children Writing

Foster carers who also work in addition to their fostering role can access the free childcare hours for a looked after child in their care provided they (and their partner if applicable) meet the requirements and have the consent of the local authority responsible for the child that this is consistent with their care plan. Foster carers should discuss this with their social worker. 

For further information, visit the government site here.

Child With Colorful Hands

In a separate scheme, 2 year olds can get free childcare if they:

  • Are looked after by a local authority
  • Have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
  • Get disability living allowance.

You can read more information on this scheme on the government site, here. 

Building Blocks
The Fostering Network
The Fostering Network
Department for Education

About us

What we stand for

Job vacancies

Contact us

Facebook X Instagram LinkedIn