"The law will be changed so that councils and courts favour adoption over other forms of care for vulnerable children, the government has announced. "
"Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has announced an additional £200m investment in the adoption system over the next four years."
"The move is an attempt to reverse a trend that has seen the number of adoptions, and the number of children being placed for adoption, both fall in recent months."
"A statement released by the Department for Education said government will seek to change legislation as soon as possible, `to make crystal clear that councils and courts must place children with the person best able to care for them right up until their 18th birthday – rather than with carers who can’t provide the support they need over the long term`..."
"Adoption UK chief executive Hugh Thornbery said the legislation and funding announcement is `extremely good news for all of those involved in trying to improve services for adoptive families and adopted children`..."
"John Simmonds, director of policy, research and development at CoramBAAF, said it is essential that the reform that accompanies the new law rebuilds confidence in professionals and judges and they have the resources and support needed to make the right decisions..."
"The drop in children being placed for adoption and the subsequent drop in the number of adoptions taking place are widely accepted to stem from a ruling made in September 2013 by Sir James Munby in the case Re B-S."
"In the ruling, Munby criticised `sloppy practice` of social workers and said that local authorities must provide evidence that all alternatives to adoption had been considered before bringing a case to court."
Read more at Children & Young People Now
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