London has the highest number of looked-after children of any region in England, with thousands of children in care across its 33 local authorities. From North London to South London, East to West, there are local authority and independent fostering agencies across the capital ready to support you on your fostering journey.
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London is the largest region for looked-after children in England, with over 12,000 children in care across its 33 boroughs and the City of London. The capital’s diverse communities mean there is a particular need for foster carers from all backgrounds, cultures and family structures to provide children with homes where they feel understood and supported.
Each London borough runs its own fostering service, and alongside these, over 100 independent fostering agencies operate across the capital. IFAs often offer higher allowances, smaller social worker caseloads and specialist therapeutic support models.
Think Fostering helps you compare fostering agencies across London so you can find the right fit for you and your family. All enquiries are free, confidential and without obligation.
Over 12,000 children in care across London’s 33 boroughsCompare local authority and independent agencies100% free, no obligation enquiryCompare Ofsted-registered fostering agencies covering London boroughs
Specialist foster care across London with therapeutic placements and comprehensive carer support. Dedicated social workers and 24/7 helpline.
Enquire NowHigh-quality foster placements across London with a focus on stability, matching and long-term outcomes for children and young people.
Enquire NowLondon-based agency offering generous allowances, small social worker caseloads and tailored training programmes for new and experienced carers across the capital.
Enquire NowSupporting foster families across London with specialist teen placements, parent and child fostering, and emergency care. Weekly peer support groups.
Enquire NowTherapeutic fostering agency with offices across London. Trauma-informed care, attachment-focused training and dedicated clinical support for carers.
Enquire NowEach of London’s 33 boroughs runs its own fostering service with direct links to local schools, health services and community support. Contact your local borough to find out more.
Enquire NowFostering agencies in London cover boroughs and communities across the entire capital
London has the highest number of looked-after children of any region in England, with over 12,000 children in care across 33 boroughs. The need for foster carers is urgent and ongoing.
Independent agencies in London offer competitive weekly allowances, typically between £450 and £860, with most fostering income effectively tax-free under Qualifying Care Relief.
Agencies across London provide dedicated social workers, out-of-hours helplines, peer support groups and regular supervision to help you succeed as a foster carer.
London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and agencies actively recruit carers from all backgrounds, cultures, identities and family structures to better match children’s needs.
Agencies across London offer comprehensive induction programmes, specialist training and ongoing professional development to build your skills and confidence.
From emergency and short-term through to long-term and specialist therapeutic care, all types of fostering are in demand across every London borough.
Foster carers in London receive a weekly allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child, plus a skills-based fee that reflects your experience and training. Most fostering income is effectively tax-free under HMRC Qualifying Care Relief.
Average weekly fostering payments across independent agencies in London range from roughly £450 to £860 per week per child, with higher payments for older children or specialist placements. London boroughs generally set allowances at the higher end of national scales to reflect the cost of living. Comparing through Think Fostering can help you find the best package.
Tax-free income under Qualifying Care ReliefAverage £450–£860 per week across London IFAsCompare agencies to find the best total package
Find answers to the most common questions about fostering in London. For more detailed information, visit our FAQs page or get in touch to speak with an agency directly — all enquiries are free and without obligation.
London has over 12,000 looked-after children across its 33 boroughs, making it the largest region for children in care in England. Nationally, around 67% of looked-after children live with foster carers, with roughly 54,800 children in foster placements across England on 31 March 2025.
London boroughs continue to recruit carers because maintaining local placements helps children stay connected to their communities, schools and support networks. Boroughs work actively with independent fostering agencies to meet demand across the capital.
Over 12,000 children looked after across London’s 33 boroughsNationally, about 67% of looked-after children live in foster careRoughly 54,800 children in foster placements across EnglandLocal placements help children stay connected to their communitiesChoosing to foster with your London borough or with an independent fostering agency depends on the kind of support, structure and matching approach you prefer. London has 33 borough councils, each running their own fostering service. Fostering directly with your borough means you work within the local children’s services team and may be prioritised for local placements.
IFAs are regulated by Ofsted just like local authorities, and many offer strong support systems with their own training, social work teams and out-of-hours services. The most practical way to decide is to speak to a few different providers and ask about support, training, supervision, respite arrangements and how placements are matched to carers’ strengths.
Local authority fostering connects you directly with borough care plannersIndependent agencies offer regulated support, training and social work teamsAll 33 London boroughs run their own fostering servicesCompare support models, training and placement matching before decidingFoster carer payments in London vary depending on the provider, the child’s age and individual needs, and whether you are approved through the local authority or an IFA. All foster carers receive weekly allowances to cover the cost of caring for a child, including food, clothing, pocket money and other day-to-day costs.
IFAs across London often publish allowances ranging from roughly £450 to £860 per week per child, with higher payments for older children or specialist placements. London boroughs generally set allowances at the higher end of national scales. The UK government publishes minimum weekly fostering allowance bands; for 2025–26 a child aged 5–10 has a minimum of about £194 and older teens £258–£267.
All carers receive a weekly fostering allowance to cover the cost of careLondon boroughs tend to set allowances at the higher end nationallyIndependent agencies often publish allowances of £450–£860+ per weekGovernment minimum allowances vary by child age and regionLondon needs foster carers across a range of fostering types because children come into care for many different reasons and at various ages. Recruitment across the capital highlights a particular need for carers who can support teenagers, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, sibling groups and children with additional needs.
Placements for children with additional emotional or behavioural needs, respite care and short-notice emergency care are also commonly needed. Carers who speak additional languages or have experience of different cultures are especially valued in London.
Teenagers, sibling groups and UASC placements are all in high demandSibling placements and short-term care are part of London-wide demandSpecialist carers for emotional or behavioural support are valuableMultilingual carers and those from diverse backgrounds are especially valuedNo, you do not need to own your home to foster in London. What matters is that you have a secure and stable home environment with a spare bedroom suitable for a child or young person, including space for their personal bed and belongings.
Renting is usually acceptable provided the tenancy is secure and you can demonstrate that the foster child will have their own space and safety. Many successful foster carers in London rent their homes. Stability and suitability of the home are central to fostering approval, not ownership status itself.
Home ownership is not required to fosterYou need a secure home with a spare bedroom suitable for a childMany successful London foster carers rent their homesStability and suitability are central to approval, not ownershipStart by using Ofsted’s provider search, which lists registered fostering services and their inspection reports so you can compare quality and ratings. You can search by location and the category “Fostering” to see all agencies that work in your borough or area of London.
You can also contact your local borough council’s fostering team directly for local authority options. Fostering comparison sites like Think Fostering allow you to filter by area and build a shortlist. Speak with agencies about support, training, supervision and placement approaches to judge which is the right fit.
Use Ofsted’s search to find registered fostering agencies in LondonContact your borough council’s fostering team for local authority optionsCompare support, training, matching and inspection ratingsUse directories like Think Fostering to filter by areaLondon has over 100 fostering providers including 33 borough fostering services and numerous independent agencies. Because IFAs may operate across multiple boroughs, the exact number serving any particular area varies considerably.
The most reliable way to get an up-to-date view is to use the Ofsted provider search and filter by location. A practical approach is to compare all relevant providers based on their support offers, inspection ratings and local presence in your area of London.
London has 33 borough services and over 100 fostering providersUse Ofsted’s provider search to see who accepts carers in your boroughNumbers change, so focus on quality and inspection historyCompare all relevant agencies covering your area of LondonThousands of children across London need safe, loving homes. Take the first step today — compare agencies, ask questions, and find the right fit for your family.
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