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Ofsted fostering dataset returns: changes for 2023–24 onwards

Updated 24 May 2024

Applies to England

Introduction to changes

This page confirms the changes that we will make to the data collection template and the portal for 2023–24. It also explains our proposed changes for 2024–25 onwards. The data we are collecting relates to the financial year 1 April to 31 March.

The confirmed changes for 2023–24 represent a small addition to the data collected last year, 2022–23.

This update provides further details on the proposed response categories for the new data items in the 2024–25 collection.

Confirmed changes for 2023–24

• Data on the disability status of foster carers (‘Yes’, ‘No’, or ‘Unknown’) will be a required field. We collected this as an optional field in 2022–23
• Additional data on the reasons why households chose to withdraw from the application process before consideration at panel. We will collect this as an optional field for 2023–24. The additional codes are as follows:
  • Fostering was not as the applicant expected (AW1)
  • Assessment process was not as the applicant expected (AW2)
  • Household circumstances changed during the assessment (other than for financial reasons) (AW3)
  • Applicant was unable to continue the process for financial reasons (AW4)
  • Applicant was concerned about the risk of allegations (AW5)
  • Other reason/unknown reason (AW0)
• We will add further clarification on what does/does not constitute an initial enquiry to the fostering guidance, based on the responses to our survey.
• We will add a new response option for the existing questions ‘Age of Foster Carer 1’ and ‘Age of Foster Carer 2’ (A8, A9). The added option will be 18-19, representing the age bracket 18 to 19 years old.

Proposed changes for 2024–25 onwards

We propose:

• to expand the data to include more protected characteristics: sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and relationship status. We would collect this data at aggregate rather than carer level, to allow for personal anonymity. Ethnicity data and disability data will move to aggregate level, instead of the existing carer level. We would collect the data for approved carers as at 31 March only. Prospective carers and deregistered carers would not be included
• that the aggregate protected characteristics section will be optional on an ongoing basis. The available categories will be:
  • Sexual orientation (6 categories)
    • Straight or heterosexual
    • Gay or lesbian
    • Bisexual
    • All other sexual orientations
    • Refused/preferred not to say
    • Unknown/not collected
  • Gender identity (7 categories)
    • Gender identity the same as sex registered at birth
    • Gender identity different from sex registered at birth but no specific identity given
    • Trans woman
    • Trans man
    • All other gender identities
    • Refused/preferred not to say
    • Unknown/not collected
  • Sex (2 categories)
    • Male
    • Female
  • Religion (10 categories)
    • No religion
    • Christian
    • Buddhist
    • Hindu
    • Jewish
    • Muslim
    • Sikh
    • Other religion
    • Refused/preferred not to say
    • Unknown/not collected
  • Marital and civil partnership status (5 categories)
    • Never married and never registered a civil partnership
    • Married or in a registered civil partnership
    • Separated, but still legally married or still legally in a civil partnership
    • Divorced or civil partnership dissolved
    • Widowed or surviving civil partnership partner
  • Ethnicity (21 categories)
    • Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Bangladeshi
    • Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Chinese
    • Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Indian
    • Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Pakistani
    • Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Other Asian
    • Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: African
    • Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Caribbean
    • Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Other Black
    • Mixed or multiple ethnic groups: White and Asian
    • Mixed or multiple ethnic groups: White and Black African
    • Mixed or multiple ethnic groups: White and Black Caribbean
    • Mixed or multiple ethnic groups: Other Mixed or multiple ethnic groups
    • White: English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British
    • White: Irish
    • White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller
    • White: Roma
    • White: Other White
    • Other ethnic group: Arab
    • Other ethnic group: Any other ethnic group
    • Refused/ preferred not to say
    • Unknown/not collected
  • Disability (4 categories)
    • Disabled under the Equality Act
    • Not disabled under the Equality Act
    • Refused/preferred not to say
    • Unknown/not collected
• to amend the response codes for the existing question ‘Reason for deregistration’ (F2). ‘Initiated by foster carer’ (DER3) will no longer be available. We propose replacing DER3 with more specific reasons, proposed as follows:
  • Carer retirement (DER7)
  • Personal carer circumstances (DER8)
  • Carer ceased fostering (DER9)

We have reviewed feedback and removed the proposed changes to initial enquiries. We will continue to collect ‘How many initial enquiries did you receive?’

We have improved the guidance to include a clear definition and examples of initial enquiries. To be counted, an enquiry must have been ‘actionable’; the enquiry provided names and contact details to enable the agency to respond. We count enquiries per household, not per number of contacts. For instance, if a potential carer made multiple contacts to an agency, it would only count as 1 initial enquiry.

At this stage, this section is a proposal and we do not guarantee it to be final. We welcome feedback on these proposed changes.

Please contact socialcaredata@ofsted.gov.uk if you have any queries or suggestions about the fostering dataset return.