Most children spend some time staying with relatives or friends. Sometimes a temporary arrangement can become more long term and when it does, it may be classed as a private fostering arrangement. Private fostering is when a child up to the age of 16 (or 18 if the child has a disability) is placed for more than 28 days in the care of someone who is not a close relative, a guardian or someone with parental responsibilities. If you are involved in this kind of arrangement and live in Middlesbrough, the law says that you must notify the Council about it.