Government adoption reforms only impacting on younger children, says charity

TACT’s chief executive Andy Elvin also voiced concerns about the number of special guardianship orders (SGOs) being issued by local authorities.

The government’s adoption reforms are only having an impact on younger children according to the Adolescent and Children’s Trust (TACT).

Responding to figures released about children in care in England, which showed a 26% increase in the number of adopted children in this past year, the charity said this growth was largely due to the numbers of 1 to 4 year olds adopted.

In total, 76% of the adopted children between April 2013 and March 2014 were between the ages of 1-4. However, TACT pointed out the numbers for children older than this had remained static, showing the reforms were only impacting on younger children.

Since ministers first launched their drive to increase the number of permanent interventions for children in care in 2011, the number of adoptions has risen by 63%, with 5,050 children adopted between 2013-14.