Responding to the warning by the Local Government Association which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, that children's social care is at breaking point, The Fostering Network said: ‘Like the LGA, we have been concerned for some time that the pressure on children’s social care budgets is becoming unsustainable. We are particularly concerned that budget cuts are having a negative impact on the wellbeing of society’s most vulnerable children, including tens of thousands of fostered children. The results of austerity will have a long-term effect on this generation of children and that must not be allowed to happen.

'This is all at a time when the need to properly train, support and remunerate foster carers so that they can better look after the children in their care is being increasingly recognised. We continue to call on the Westminster and Welsh Governments – and indeed in Scotland and Northern Ireland too – to properly fund this crucial area so that looked after children have every opportunity to thrive and transition into successful adults.'