Seaham High School

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Home / Parents / Private Fostering

Private Fostering

Private fostering – Taken from DCC


Private fostering is the term used to describe an arrangement made privately (without our involvement) where a child under 16 (if disabled, under 18) is cared for and lives with an adult who is not a close relative.

Watch this short video to learn the key facts

FACTSHEET: Private Fostering A Factsheet For Parents And Carers

Under the Children Act 1989, a close relative is defined as a grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or step-parent.

A child is considered to be in private foster care if he or she is in the care of someone who is not directly related, or is a legal guardian, for a total of 28 days or longer.

Private foster carers are not approved as local authority foster carers and usually have had no training to become carers. Families find private foster carers themselves, and it is their responsibility to find carers that are suitable.

This does not include children and young people who are being looked-after by us.

How to identify a private fostering arrangement

If you suspect that a child you work with or a child you know is being privately fostered, you should contact us:

First Contact/Social Care Direct

First Contact/Social Care Direct

03000 267 979

Some signs that a child might be privately fostered are:

  • The child is consistently presenting with a new or unknown carer.
  • Someone other than the parent is coming along to parent’s evening.
  • A child mentions that they are not staying at home or haven’t seen their parent for a long time.
  • A child not previously known, starts living with a friend or neighbour.
  • A child of a friend is no longer in the parental home.

Responsibilities of the parent and foster carer

By law, those involved in the private fostering arrangement (both the birth parent or person with parental responsibility and the private foster carer) must notify us. We must be aware of the situation six weeks before the child is privately fostered. We must then be notified again within 48 hours of the child arriving.

We must also be notified of any changes in circumstances such as change of address. By law when a child is privately fostered, the child’s parents still have full parental responsibility.

How can we help?

Under the Children Act 1989, we have a duty to make sure that the proposed arrangement will provide for the child’s needs and safeguard their welfare.

We will work with the child’s parents and the carer to make sure they are meeting the child’s needs. We can also explain the rights and responsibilities of both the parents and the carers and help you to meet these.

We will also:

  • Visit the parents to find out why the placement is needed and whether any services can be offered to help keep the child at home.
  • Visit the private foster carer to check that the placement is suitable for the child and that it is safe.
  • When the child is living with the private foster carer, the social worker will visit regularly to make sure everything is going well. If there are any concerns they will be reported immediately to the parents.

We have the powers to prohibit a person from privately fostering if they, or their household, are judged to be unsuitable.

In this section:

  • Preference Booklet 2019
  • Admissions
  • Attendance
  • CEIAG – Careers, Education, Information, Advice and Guidance
    • Careers – Students
  • Subjects
  • Exams for Parents
  • Gifted & Talented
  • Homework Calendar
  • Learning Resource Centre
  • Mobile Phones
  • Parent e-Safety
  • Policies
  • Prevent
  • School Lunches
  • Transition and Induction
  • Seaham High School Virtual Tour

Parent – Online Safety

Online Safety advice for parents and carers during Covid 19

Many families will be encouraging their children to make good use of technology while we start the second week of lockdown with no opportunities to see their classmates “in real life”.  Technology can help us all stay in touch safely but parents and carers will want to make sure that their children are as safe […]

Keeping you child safe online while off school

Thinkuknow: keeping your child safe online while they are off school Thinkuknow is the national online safety education programme from CEOP, the online child protection command of the National Crime Agency. Thinkuknow helps parents, carers, teachers and others keep children safe from sexual abuse, offering learning activities, advice and support for children and young people […]

The Parents’ Guide to Teaching your Teen Online Safety

A fantastic blog from MyTutor reagarding online safety. Take 5 minutes to read this article to help protect your child online. Follow the link here.

Momo – Advice for Parents

National Online Safety Organisation has produced an article with advice to parents regarding MOMO:

Online Safety Letter

Dear Parent/Carer, A letter from our Online Safety Lead has been emailed to you today. If you did not receive this letter you may need to update the school with your current email address. The letter can also be downloaded below: Online Safety – App Letter

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SEAHAM HIGH SCHOOL
Engaging Minds, Broadening Horizons
ADDRESS Seaham High School
Station Road
Seaham
County Durham
United Kingdom
SR7 OBH

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CONTACT US Email: office@seahamhighschool.com
Tel: 0191 516 1600

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