our history
Our Community’s roots go all the way back to 1987 when we became the very first independent fostering agency in the country. We’ve come a long way since those early days, and over the years we have grown, developed and gone from strength to strength. We are proud to be celebrating our 37th year as a leading children’s care organisation, with a team of over 1000 incredible people who are on this journey with us.
1987
ISP Fostering were the founders of independent fostering; now with teams based across England.
1993
Clifford House Fostering launched their small, family-feel agency in Bromsgrove.
1993
Dove Adolescent Services was launched with a clear focus on providing young people across Yorkshire with high quality bespoke residential care.
1994
FCA was launched; one of the largest fostering agencies in the UK, supporting almost 2,000 young people.
1994
ISP School in Kent opened its doors to provide therapeutic education to children with specialist needs.
1996
Orange Grove was launched; providing a nurturing approach and tailored support across nine teams in England.
1996
Fosterplus was founded; an independent agency with ten teams based across England and Scotland.
2000
Fostering People, a diverse and therapeutic agency, launched in the East Midlands; supporting families across England and Scotland.
2000
Headway began to provide child centered residential care for young people in South West England & Wales, enabling them to achieve their potential.
2001
Leaving Care Solutions was launched to provide semi-independent accommodation and support for young people leaving care.
2002
FCA Scotland welcomed their first foster child as a new fostering agency; now supporting over 100 families across Scotland.
2006
Apple Orchard begin to provide therapeutic residential homes and on-site education for young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour.
2007
North Lakes launches it's residential homes & school in Cumbria to offer trauma-informed care and education to young people with complex needs.
2009
Polaris Children’s Services was first established by an experienced team working with vulnerable children and families across the UK.
2010
Bay View begin to support young people experiencing emotional difficulties via therapeutic residential care throughout Lancashire.
2012
ACS was founded; a cultural and faith-based fostering agency, recognised as champions of diversity across England.
2012
Area Camden set out to become a leading provider of residential care for young people with complex needs across London and East of England.
2014
Adopters for Adoption was opened in Worcestershire and now provides highly supportive adoption services on a national level.
2018
Budwood launches residential care and supported accommodation services in Dorset & Hampshire to provide young people with a stable home.
2020
The Polaris brand was launched, bringing together the expertise of many children’s services providers into the extensive Community we know today.
2022
Situated on the edge of Nottingham, Easthorpe School opens - providing specialist education for pupils with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties.
2023
Based near Cambridge, Selwyn Hall School opens to provide specialist SEN education, with large grounds providing a therapeutic environment.
2024
Stannard School opens in Dunstable, delivering specialist education to pupils with Autism and/or social, emotional, and mental health difficulties.
Our Team
The Polaris Community combines the knowledge, skills and passion of nearly 1,000 individuals, specialising in fostering, adoption, education, therapy, leaving care and bespoke children's services.
Our Services
Each of our providers offers outstanding support and training, with its own unique approach. As a community, we’re able to meet a wide range of needs and make a lifelong difference to children and young people.
Social Value
The Polaris Community has a combined commitment to measure and maximise our Social Value and impact we have on communities and wider society. Find out more about how we strive to make a difference.