The South East of England has thousands of children in care across its 19 local authorities. From Kent and Surrey to Hampshire, Sussex, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, there are local authority and independent fostering agencies across the region ready to support you on your fostering journey.
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The South East of England is the largest region by population outside London and is home to over 10,000 looked-after children across its 19 local authorities. The region stretches from the coastal counties of Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex through Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to the Home Counties of Surrey, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Each local authority runs its own fostering service, and alongside these, dozens of independent fostering agencies operate across the South East. IFAs often offer higher allowances, smaller social worker caseloads and specialist therapeutic support models.
Think Fostering helps you compare fostering agencies across the South East so you can find the right fit for you and your family. All enquiries are free, confidential and without obligation.
Over 10,000 children in care across the South EastCompare local authority and independent agencies100% free, no obligation enquiryCompare Ofsted-registered fostering agencies covering South East England
Specialist foster care across the South East with therapeutic placements and comprehensive carer support. Dedicated social workers and 24/7 helpline.
Enquire NowHigh-quality foster placements across the South East with a focus on stability, matching and long-term outcomes for children and young people.
Enquire NowRegional agency offering generous allowances, small social worker caseloads and tailored training programmes for new and experienced carers across the South East.
Enquire NowSupporting foster families across the South East with specialist teen placements, parent and child fostering, and emergency care. Weekly peer support groups.
Enquire NowTherapeutic fostering agency with offices across the South East. Trauma-informed care, attachment-focused training and dedicated clinical support for carers.
Enquire NowKent’s own fostering service with direct links to local schools, health services and community support. One of the largest local authority fostering services in England.
Enquire NowFostering agencies in the South East cover towns and cities across the entire region
The South East has over 10,000 looked-after children across its 19 local authorities and the need for foster carers continues to grow, particularly for teenagers, sibling groups and children with additional needs.
Independent agencies across the South East offer competitive weekly allowances, typically between £450 and £860, with most fostering income effectively tax-free under Qualifying Care Relief.
Agencies across the South East provide dedicated social workers, out-of-hours helplines, peer support groups and regular supervision to help you succeed as a foster carer.
The South East is one of the most diverse regions in England, from coastal towns to rural villages and commuter towns, and agencies seek carers from all backgrounds and settings.
Agencies across the South East 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 the South East.
Foster carers in the South East 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 the South East range from roughly £450 to £860 per week per child, with higher payments for older children or specialist placements. Some agencies also provide extra payments for birthdays, festivals and holidays. Comparing through Think Fostering can help you find the best package for your circumstances.
Tax-free income under Qualifying Care ReliefAverage £450–£860 per week across South East IFAsCompare agencies to find the best total package
Find answers to the most common questions about fostering in the South East. 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.
The South East of England has over 10,000 looked-after children across its 19 local authorities, making it one of the largest regions for children in care outside London. 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.
The South East continues to recruit carers because maintaining local placements helps children stay connected to their communities, schools and support networks. Local authorities work actively with independent fostering agencies to meet demand across the region.
Over 10,000 children looked after across the South EastNationally, about 67% of looked-after children live in foster careRoughly 54,800 children in foster placements across EnglandContinued recruitment helps keep children near family, friends and schoolChoosing to foster with a local authority or with an independent fostering agency depends on the kind of support, structure and matching approach you prefer. The South East has 19 local authorities, each running their own fostering service. Fostering directly with your local council 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 local care plannersIndependent agencies offer regulated support, training and social work teams19 local authorities run fostering services across the South EastCompare support models, training and placement matching before decidingFoster carer payments in the South East 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 the South East often publish allowances ranging from roughly £450 to £860 per week per child, with higher payments for older children or specialist placements, and sometimes extra payments for birthdays, festivals and holidays. 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 careLocal authority fees may include a skills-based professional elementIndependent agencies often publish allowances of £450–£860+ per weekGovernment minimum allowances vary by child age and regionThe South East needs foster carers across a range of fostering types because children come into care for many different reasons and at various ages. Local recruitment across the region highlights the need for carers who can support infants, younger children and older children and teenagers, along with placements for siblings to stay together where possible.
Placements for children with additional emotional or behavioural needs, respite care and short-notice emergency care are also commonly needed. Carers who are flexible on age and placement type are often in higher demand across all 19 local authority areas.
Young children, older children and teenagers are all neededSibling placements and short-term care are part of regional demandSpecialist carers for emotional or behavioural support are valuableCarers flexible on age and placement type are in higher demandNo, you do not need to own your home to foster in the South East. 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. 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 childRenting is normally acceptable where tenancy is stableStability 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 area of the South East.
You can also contact your local 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 the South EastContact your local council’s fostering team for local authority optionsCompare support, training, matching and inspection ratingsUse directories like Think Fostering to filter by areaThe South East has over 80 fostering providers including 19 local authority services and numerous independent agencies. Because IFAs may operate across multiple county boundaries, the exact number serving any particular area varies.
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, ratings and local presence.
The South East has 19 LA services and numerous IFAsUse Ofsted’s provider search to see who accepts carers in your areaNumbers change, so focus on quality and inspection historyCompare all relevant agencies covering your areaThousands of children across the South East 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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