Are foster care training courses compulsory?
Yes. Foster care training courses are a required part of the fostering assessment and preparation process, helping you understand your responsibilities before approval; the specific course content and timing may vary between fostering services.
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Foster care training courses are compulsory because they help a fostering service assess whether applicants understand the responsibilities involved and are prepared to provide safe, consistent care. You will normally need to complete the required preparation training before approval, although the exact programme, delivery method and timetable depend on the fostering service and the type of fostering you are considering.
Training is not intended to test whether you already have professional childcare knowledge. It is part of the preparation provided to help you develop the practical understanding needed to foster. Typical subjects include:
- the role and responsibilities of a foster carer;
- children’s development, behaviour and emotional needs;
- attachment, trauma and the impact of previous experiences;
- safeguarding, safe caring and recognising possible signs of abuse;
- working with birth families, social workers, schools and other professionals;
- record keeping, confidentiality and sharing information appropriately;
- supporting contact arrangements and helping children maintain important relationships; and
- understanding how fostering affects everyone in the household.
The course is usually one part of a wider assessment. Your assessing social worker will also consider your circumstances, relationships, health, household arrangements, support network, practical skills and reasons for fostering. Completing the training does not by itself guarantee approval, but failing to take part in required preparation can prevent the assessment from progressing until the concern has been addressed.
Some training takes place before approval and further learning continues after you become an approved foster carer. This may include induction activities, training linked to a child’s individual needs and ongoing development identified through supervision or reviews. The purpose is to ensure that your knowledge remains relevant as your fostering role develops.
Attendance is therefore important, but missing a session does not necessarily mean that you cannot foster. If you cannot attend a scheduled course, tell your assessing social worker as soon as possible. The service may discuss another session, an alternative format or any learning you need to complete before the assessment can continue. You should not assume that watching part of a course or reading the materials alone will meet the requirement; this depends on the provider’s policy.
Training can also help you decide whether fostering is suitable for your household before you make a final commitment. It gives you the opportunity to ask practical questions, understand the expectations placed on foster carers and consider how fostering may affect family life. Use the sessions to raise anything that could affect your ability to participate or learn, so that appropriate support or adjustments can be discussed.
Before applying, ask the fostering service which preparation course it uses, what attendance is expected, whether training is delivered in person or online, and what happens if you need to miss a session. You can also ask how post-approval training is planned and how learning is recorded. These details vary, but the underlying requirement is consistent: foster carers must be suitably prepared and continue developing the knowledge and skills needed to care for children safely.
Compulsory foster care training involves more than being present for each session. Fostering services may consider how you engage with discussions, reflect on realistic scenarios and respond to guidance from the trainers. This helps show that you can think about how information would apply in day-to-day care, rather than simply completing a set of modules.
There is not usually a single national exam that every prospective foster carer must pass. The important requirement is to complete the preparation set by your fostering service and demonstrate a suitable understanding of the role. If a topic raises questions or concerns, discussing it openly during training gives your assessing social worker an opportunity to explain the expectations and identify any further preparation that may be useful.
Ask about compulsory foster care training
If you are considering fostering, speak to our team about the preparation training involved and how it fits into the application process. We can help you understand the next steps and what to expect before you decide whether to apply.