Who are we?
We deliver fostering services as part of Reading Borough Council. We work closely with Brighter Futures for Children which delivers children’s services in Reading as part of Reading Borough Council.
Our main aim is to protect vulnerable children and young people in Reading and keep them in their home town, near their friends, school and support networks when they need to be cared for outside of their own family.
Ofsted updates
October 2025
Brighter Futures for Children transferred back into Reading Borough Council on 1 October 2025. this means children’s services are now delivered as part of the local authority. As a result, our independent fostering agency is also now a local authority provision known as Reading Fostering Service. We continue to deliver fostering services in the same way, with the same team. Being a local authority service, we also continue to be not-for-profit.
2024
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The overall experiences and progress of children and young people are deemed to be ‘good’.
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How well children and young people are helped and protected is likewise deemed to be ‘good’.
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The effectiveness of leaders and managers is deemed to ‘require improvement to be good’.
We are delighted with our steady progress since taking over responsibility for the fostering service in March 2019 and will continue to focus on further, long-term improvements to the service we offer.
Proud to be a Fostering Friendly employer
Reading Borough Council is proud to be a Fostering Friendly employer. Our flexible HR policies make working with us a friendly and supportive place for those who foster or would like to become a foster carer. It also benefits the children and young people in their care.
If you’re a local business or an organisation – you could become Fostering Friendly too! Discover more here.
Our governance
Registered Manager
Steffi Roth