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The survey, CUTS - the view from foster carers (England):  the impact of austerity measures on fostered children and the families that care for them, carried out in February 2016, highlighted the negative impact of local authority budget cuts in a number of areas, including practical and financial support for foster carers, children’s access to their social workers and other services, especially mental health services.  

The recommended national minimum allowance rates for foster carers in England for 2016-17 published by the Department for Education show there will be no increase.

​Vicki Swain, campaigns manager at The Fostering Network said: 'We believe that no foster carer should be out of pocket as a result of fostering. These are minimum levels which means some foster carers, particularly those looking after children with disabilities, will have higher costs and allowances will need to reflect that.

“While we cannot expect dramatic and immediate change in educational outcomes for young people in care, it is positive to see a consistent improvement over time. There is clearly still a long way to go, but we know that being in foster care can improve educational outcomes; University of Oxford research (2015) showed that educational outcomes are higher for fostered children compared with those living on the edge of care.

The Reclaim Care digital platform, created as part of the Department for Education funded Inspiring Voices project, allows children, young people, and care leavers, to share their successes in the form of a meme and to upload it into the gallery of achievements.

Sara Lurie, director of The Fostering Network Scotland, said: ‘Scotland is taking a progressive stance when it comes to the higher education of care experienced young people, and we must say that this is a positive step in the right direction.

‘While over time more must be done to narrow the inequality gap in education between children in care and their peers at all levels of education, giving those children and young people a tangible and realistic goal to aim for will inspire many to go on to higher education.

We are offering kinship foster carers from each of the Health and Social Care Trusts the opportunity to participate in a one night residential with a focus on improving health and well-being in a relaxed environment. Attendees will also have the opportunity to gain an OCN Level 1 Award in Healthy Living.

The changes in The Special Guardianship (Amendment) Regulations 2016 include a strengthening of the assessment of prospective special guardians to ensure that they can fully meet the needs of the child through until adulthood.

The report, Keep Connected: Maintaining Relationships When Moving On, part of the charity’s campaign of the same name, spoke to over 175 children and young people, and over 1,100 foster carers. 

A survey of young people showed:

The strategy will support foster carers to better understand how the education system works, and to feel better equipped to engage, support, and educationally challenge the children young people in their care. It also calls for foster carers to be viewed as an equal part of the team around the child to ensure they are able to support the ambitions and aspirations of the children in their care.

The strategy is supported by a detailed action plan and the Welsh Government will monitor delivery against the plan on an annual basis.