Open call for evidence

Fostering for the future: improving the foster care system

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 4 February 2026

Applies to England

Summary

Seeking views on a range of issues in fostering, evidence of what works, best practice and innovative ideas.

This call for evidence is being held on another website.

This call for evidence closes at
11:59pm on 17 March 2026

Call for evidence description

The Department for Education is seeking views from:

• anyone working in fostering or related areas
• people with lived experience of fostering

We’d like your views on a broad range of issues to help develop longer-term policy on fostering reform.

This call for evidence accompanies:

• an overarching vision and action plan for the future of fostering in England, renewing fostering: homes for 10,000 more children

• a consultation on policy proposals, fostering reform: proposed changes to assessment and handling allegations of abuse

We want to identify innovative ideas and seek views on how we can improve the foster care system to develop future reform proposals.

Alongside this plan, we have published a regional care cooperatives policy paper.

A version for children and young people is also available.

Published 4 February 2026