Last month, the Government responded to the independent fostering stocktake and the findings of the Education Select Committee's earlier inquiry on this subject, which highlight fostering as a success story, while at the same time recognising improvements can be made.

Most children live with their own families and thrive, but 72,670 children and young people are in care – two-thirds of which live with loving, dedicated foster carers who play a critical role in ensuring they are safe and their needs are met. We cannot effectively support the children and young people in our care without supporting their carers, whether in-house or attached to an agency and are therefore pleased to see the importance of supporting and valuing foster carers identified as a key ambition underpinning the Government vision for foster care.