Factsheet
Private fostering: staff factsheet
Family support
Reporting Concerns About Pupils
Use this factsheet to make staff aware of private fostering as a potential safeguarding issue, and what they must look out for.
Last reviewed on 4 February 2025
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Staff factsheet
Private fostering: staff factsheet
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Give staff this factsheet to make them aware of:
- What private fostering is
- Why it's a potential safeguarding concern
- What to look out for
- What to do if they have concerns
You can talk about it at a staff meeting, or send it to staff to read themselves.
Want to make it interactive? Use these questions to start a discussion:
- What signs would you look for to identify if a pupil is currently, or is likely to be, cared for under private fostering arrangements?
- Why might privately fostered pupils be at risk?
- Can you think of any pupils in our school who may be more likely to be privately fostered, or who are already? How can we reduce the chances of them being at risk?
- What might stop parents or carers from telling the local authority about private fostering arrangements? How can we help them overcome these barriers?
- Are there any preconceptions that might make us less likely to see the signs of private fostering?
- How can we build our relationships with families to reduce the chances of private fostering arrangements happening or going unnoticed, unreported or unsupported?
Next ...
... use our safeguarding scenario to check if your staff can spot potential private fostering situations, and their understanding of your procedures.