Can you choose the age range when fostering?

Children enter foster care between the ages of 0 (or even during pregnancy in a mother-and-baby arrangement) and 17. Foster carers can express a preference for the age range that they wish to foster; however, if the range is too limited, it may be difficult to match any children to the homes, so the application to foster may be refused.

Applicants also need to consider how long they would like arrangements to last; carers who look after children for a longer period may raise children from a young age into adulthood.

Some independent providers, such as Sparks Fostering, only accept foster carers who are open to long-term foster carer because it’s not always possible to predict how long fostering support is needed. Local authority fostering services typically accept carers who have a more restricted age preference and are only available for emergency, short-term or respite care.