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Adoptive parents receive heartfelt thanks from minister

Adoptive parents across the country have received a personal letter of thanks from the Children and Families Minister, Edward Timpson, for their love and commitment in caring for some of the country’s most vulnerable children.

Writing to adopters during National Adoption Week, the minister paid tribute to the endless dedication and compassion shown by adoptive parents in caring for their children, while setting out the support available to them every step of the way.

The minister’s letter follows a record high in the number of adoptions over the last 12 months, resulting in more than 5,000 children placed in loving, stable homes - an increase of 25% on the previous year.

Children and Families Minister Edward Timpson, who grew up with 2 adopted brothers, said:

I want to thank everyone who has adopted a child for the endless commitment, dedication and love they bring to some of our most vulnerable children.

As someone who grew up with 2 adopted brothers, I understand all too well the challenges that many families face on a daily basis - and I want to reassure them that myself and the government are there to support them every single step of the way.

That’s why we have introduced a quicker approvals process to remove delay and frustration for both children waiting and potential adopters. We have also introduced a new Adoption Support Fund to help children who have lived through terrible experiences settle with their new family, andextended the pupil premium to all adopted children so they get the support they need to thrive at school.

Children are also spending less time in care waiting to be adopted, with the average length of time between a child coming into care and being placed with their new family down by 2 months.

This year’s National Adoption Week follows months of concentrated government action to reform the adoption system so children waiting are provided with stable and loving homes much more swiftly, giving them the opportunity to settle and bond with their new family.

In the last 12 months, the government has:

  • removed barriers by ensuring ethnicity is not prioritised over other factors, such as the ability to provide a stable, loving home
  • introduced new rules requiring councils to actively consider fostering for adoption places where appropriate, allowing children to move in with their adoptive family much earlier
  • placed mandatory requirement on all councils to tell prospective adopters about their entitlements
  • extended pupil premium funding and priority school admissions so that all children adopted from care are eligible for extra funding at school
  • empowered adoptive parents to choose the school that will best meet their child’s needs

Notes to editors

  1. Read more about National Adoption Week.
  2. Read the minister’s letter.

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