What should I bring to foster carer training?
Bring a notebook and pen, any documents requested in your joining instructions, and a list of questions you want to discuss. If training is online, also have a suitable device, a reliable internet connection and a private space where you can take part without interruptions.
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The most useful things to bring to foster carer training are accurate information about your household, a willingness to participate and any practical details that will help you take part fully. You do not need specialist qualifications or previous fostering experience. The training is designed to help you understand the responsibilities involved and consider how they relate to your own circumstances.
Before attending, think through the following areas so you can contribute to discussions and ask relevant questions:
- Your household: Be ready to explain who lives in your home, including children, other adults and pets. Consider how fostering could affect family routines, privacy and relationships.
- Your daily routine: Reflect on work patterns, childcare arrangements, travel, hobbies and other commitments. These details can help you explore how fostering may fit into everyday life.
- Your experience: Think about any experience of caring for children or young people, supporting someone with additional needs, working in education or healthcare, or managing challenging situations. Formal experience is not essential, but examples can make training discussions more practical.
- Your support network: Consider who may be able to provide practical or emotional support. This could include relatives, friends or other people who understand your circumstances and may be involved in your fostering journey.
- Your learning needs: Tell the training team about any accessibility requirements, communication needs or learning preferences that could affect your participation. It is better to raise these before the session so suitable arrangements can be considered.
You should also prepare yourself to take part in activities rather than simply listen. Foster carer training may include group discussions, case examples, reflection exercises and scenarios about safeguarding, safer caring, child development, attachment, behaviour and working with families. You may be asked to explain how you would respond to a situation or to consider how your views could affect a child in your care.
It is useful to bring an open and reflective approach. Training is not intended to test whether you already know everything about fostering. Trainers will be looking at your understanding, willingness to learn and ability to consider advice. If a subject is unfamiliar or difficult, ask for clarification and take time to think before responding.
If you are attending with a partner or another household member, each person should consider their own views and expectations. Discuss practical matters such as household rules, privacy, contact with birth families, managing behaviour and how responsibilities may be shared. Differences of opinion are worth exploring during training rather than overlooking them.
Check your joining instructions carefully for anything specific required for that particular course. Requirements can vary depending on whether the session is delivered individually, as part of a group, in person or remotely. If you are unsure whether a particular item or preparation is needed, ask the training team before the session.
Finally, allow yourself enough time to settle in and focus. Avoid arranging other commitments that could interrupt your participation, and make sure you have dealt with any immediate household responsibilities beforehand. Being prepared in this way allows you to concentrate on the information, contribute honestly and make better use of the training.
As well as practical materials, bring an understanding of confidentiality and professional boundaries. Foster carer training may involve group discussion about safeguarding, family circumstances and children’s experiences, so personal information shared by other participants should not be repeated outside the session.
Use general or anonymised examples when discussing your own experiences, and avoid identifying children, relatives or professionals. This helps create a safe learning environment and reflects the discretion expected when fostering. If a discussion raises a concern about a child’s safety or your ability to manage a situation, raise it with the trainer rather than discussing it informally with others.
Get ready for foster carer training
If you have questions about preparing for training, contact our fostering team to discuss your circumstances and the next stage of the foster carer training process.