Children aged three and four across England are now entitled to an extra 15 hours of free childcare each week, with the exception of fostered children who have been explicitly and inexplicably excluded. We are calling on the children’s minister, Robert Goodwill, to urge him to reverse this discriminatory decision with immediate effect.
Fostered children must have access to the same opportunities as other children. Moreover, foster carers are, as a group, unpaid or underpaid and often cannot rely on their fostering income. They may therefore benefit from this extra childcare, especially those who foster members of their family and those providing long-term care.
Carol Iddon Manager director, children’s services, Action for Children
Natasha Finlayson Chief executive, Become
Maris Stratulis England manager, British Association of Social Workers
David Graham National director, The Care Leavers’ Association
Kathy Evans Chief executive, Children England
John Simmonds Director, Policy, Research and Development, Coram BAAF
Brigid Robinson Managing director, Coram Voice
Kevin Williams Chief executive, The Fostering Network
Jon Fayle and Paul Smart Co-chairs, National Association of Independent Reviewing Officers
Rita Waters CEO, National Youth Advocacy Service
Andy Elvin CEO, Tact
Jill Sheldrake Service director, The Together Trust
Ron Giddens CEO, St Christopher’s
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