The government has set out its vision for reforming adoption support and has launched a consultation to gather feedback on the proposals.
The increased Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) forms part of a wider reform agenda, with the Department for Education aiming to strengthen adoption support by 2028 through earlier intervention and more targeted help at key life stages.
To give families the certainty they need, funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) will be increased by £5 million over the next 12 months, taking the total funding up to £55 million.
“Adoptive and kinship families make an extraordinary commitment to children who have had a difficult start, and they deserve the strongest possible support,” Josh MacAlister, minister for children and families, said.
“Our proposals build on what we know works, and I look forward to hearing from families and experts on how we can improve support further.
“I’m also pleased to confirm continued funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, ensuring families can keep accessing the services they rely on”.
From September 2026, Adoption England will help deliver new support for adopted children preparing to enter Year 7. This transition point into secondary school can be a difficult time for children approaching adolescence, especially if they have faced challenges early in life, the Department for Education said in a statement.
The offer will include online learning, group sessions, and support from peers for parents to help children to feel supported with their needs. Without this, the statement added, some adopted children approaching adolescence can fall into issues which can lead to absence, exclusion, or strained relationships with their adoptive families.
Proposals also look to make needs assessments and support plans clearer and more consistent, focusing on evidence‑based interventions, shifting decision making to regional or local levels, and ensuring funding is used effectively for children and families.
“We welcome this announcement as an important step towards a more preventative, consistent, and evidence‑informed system of support,” Sarah Johal, national adoption strategic lead at Adoption England said:
“The extension of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, alongside new investment in transition support and a sector‑wide consultation, will help ensure children and their families receive support earlier, before difficulties escalate.
“While the ASGSF remains a crucial lifeline for many families, it is encouraging that the government’s consultation looks beyond the Fund alone. By focusing on developing a universal baseline offer, support at key transitions and improving the way social care, health, and education work together, this consultation creates an opportunity to build the joined‑up, proactive, and responsive support that families consistently tell us they need.
“We look forward to working with government and partners to build a coherent national model that strengthens stability and improves outcomes for children”.
The Department for Education will work with the Department of Health and Social Care on a new pilot to improve mental health support for children in social care, including adopted families.
It will also expand funding for specialist teams working with adopted families in Regional Adoption Agencies, as part of a series of local pilots. The teams will include social workers, psychologists, mental health practitioners and teachers to provide additional support where it is needed.
Open until 5 May 2026, the consultation will inform a government response later this year, including an action plan and details on how the support will be delivered.
