A GROUP of MPs is pressing for tighter laws on private fostering by relatives or families who are unknown to or unchecked by social services.

Private fostering is the last unregulated area of childcare in England and is seen by many childcare experts as a magnet for abusers.

To provide better protection for the estimated 15,000 children living in such arrangements, a group of MPs will table an amendment to the Children Bill next week that would place a duty on local authorities in England to establish and maintain a register of people in their area suitable to foster children privately.

The amendment seeks to ensure that people could not set themselves up as private foster carers and look after children unless they were approved.

There is evidence that parents often mistakenly think that a private foster carer who has not been prohibited from fostering has been positively approved. Because many of the children who are living in such arrangements are sent from abroad to have a “better life” in the UK, there is often no way for parents to check up on the credentials of private foster carers.

It is hoped that the measure would help to avoid a repeat of the Victoria Climbié abuse case.

She died after she was sent from her home in Ivory Coast to live with an aunt.

Felicity Collier, chief executive of the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering, said that although the Children Bill does contain some new safeguards of children in private foster arrangements, it does not go far enough.

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