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Recommended reading for people thinking about fostering
Becoming a foster carer is a significant decision. The books and resources below can help you understand the role, learn about children’s experiences, and develop confidence in providing safe, stable and nurturing care.
Getting started with fostering
Thinking About Fostering?
Henrietta Bond
A practical and honest introduction to fostering, covering what the role involves, the realities of welcoming children into your home, and the skills and commitment needed to support children and young people.
Why we recommend it: An accessible first read for anyone at the enquiry stage.
Being a Foster Family: What It Means and How It Feels
Hedi Argent
Written for children living in fostering households, this illustrated guide helps families talk about fostering and understand how welcoming a foster child may affect family life. [corambaaf.org.uk]
Understanding children's experiences
Promoting Resilience
Robbie Gilligan
A highly regarded guide that explores how everyday relationships, opportunities and experiences can help children build resilience and thrive. It offers practical ideas for supporting children and young people in care.
The Secure Base Model
Gillian Schofield and Mary Beek
This influential resource explores how foster carers can help children develop trust, security, belonging and confidence through nurturing relationships.
Why Can’t I See My Grandad?
Where Are My Brothers and Sisters?
CoramBAAF Children’s Guides
Child-friendly resources that help children and young people understand important relationships, family connections and changes in their lives.
Therapeutic and trauma-informed parenting
Parenting Matters Series
CoramBAAF
A trusted series covering health, developmental and behavioural issues that may affect children in care. The guides provide practical, evidence-informed advice written for carers and professionals. [corambaaf.org.uk]
The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting
Sarah Naish
A practical guide to therapeutic parenting approaches, helping carers understand behaviour through a trauma-informed lens.
Therapeutic Parenting in a Nutshell
Sarah Naish
An introduction to therapeutic parenting principles and how to apply them in everyday situations.
Supporting teenagers
The Foster Carer’s Handbook on Parenting Teenagers
Henrietta Bond
A practical guide focused on understanding adolescence, identity, relationships, risk-taking and supporting teenagers in foster care.
Understanding behaviour
Managing Difficult Behaviour
Clare Pallett, Kathy Blackeby, Caroline Bengo, William Yule, Roger Weissman and Stephen Scott
Provides strategies to help foster carers understand and respond to behaviours that may stem from earlier experiences and unmet needs.
Neurodiversity and additional needs
Parenting Matters: ADHD
Parenting Matters: Autism
Parenting Matters: Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Additional online resources
New Family Social (for LGBT+ foster carers and prospective foster carers)
Anna Freud Centre resources on child development, wellbeing and trauma
Coram Voice resources to help understand the experiences and rights of children in care