Section 66: Privately fostered children.

Children Act 1989 · 1989 c. 41View on legislation.gov.uk

Part IX: PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR FOSTERING CHILDREN

In this Part—

"a privately fostered child" means a child who is under the age of sixteen and who is cared for, and provided with accommodation in their own home by, someone other than—
a parent of his;
a person who is not a parent of his but who has parental responsibility for him; or
a relative of his; and
"to foster a child privately" means to look after the child in circumstances in which he is a privately fostered child as defined by this section.

A child is not privately fostered child if the person caring for and accommodating him—

has done so for a period a period of less than 28 days; and
does not intend to do so for any longer period.

Subsection (1) is subject to —

the provisions of section 63; and
the exceptions made by paragraph 1 to 5 of Schedule 8.

In the case of a child who is disabled, subsection (1)(a) shall have effect as if for "sixteen"there were substituted "eighteen".

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as to the circumstances in which a person who provides accommodation to a child is, or is not, to be treated as providing him with accommodation in the person's own home.

Schedule 8 shall have effect for the purposes of supplementing the provision made by this Part.

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Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.