The charity is worried about the shortage of carers

Scotland is suffering from a shortage of fosterers. An extra 650 are currently needed.

One residential school is now offering more than �20,000 per year to try to attract carers from other occupations.

The Fostering Network said that all foster carers should be given a proper salary to reflect the work they do in looking after children.

At Kibble, in Paisley, staff will be trained to HNC level, earn nearly �25,000 annually and will be given paid holiday.

It is hoped some of the boys at the school will then be able to benefit from family life.

Divided families

Last month, the Fostering Network said that fostered children faced instability and disruption due to a shortage of carers.

During the time that numbers were low, children would be moved from home to home, it warned.

The charity said that too many youngsters were being split up from siblings and living miles from family and friends.

Statistics from the Scottish Executive show that one in four children living away from home in public care lived in three or more homes in the year ending 31 March, 2003.

This compares with one in seven children in England.