The stocktake, which launched in April 2017 and was carried out by longstanding government adviser Sir Martin Narey and children's social worker Mark Owers, makes a total of 36 recommendations.
Alongside suggesting a national register, it also calls for foster carers to receive better support, and for improvements to be made to foster placement commissioning.
The report states that although more carers are needed, there is not an "absolute shortage".
"The overwhelming majority of children needing a fostering placement on any one day are placed," it states.
"Indeed, at any one time, there are about 16,000 fostering households without a child living with them. The shortages are down to geography or the availability of carers who can look after more challenging children. This means that, too often, matches are made between carers and children that are not ideal and, after a short period, the child has to be moved again."
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