New figures this week have shown that more than 5,000 children have been placed in loving, stable homes across Britain in the last 12 months – an increase of 26 per cent on the previous year.
This includes 20 new adoptions in the last year locally in Hammersmith and Fulham, an increase of 25 per cent compared with last year. Children are also being moved out of care and into loving families at the fastest rate since the last General Election. In 2010, less than 10% of ‘looked after’ children were adopted each year in Hammersmith and Fulham; today that rate has risen to 13%. This compares to a London-wide average of 10% each year.
Official figures from the Department for Education show that Conservative reforms are building a world-class adoption system, which places children with their new families more quickly.
The Conservative led Government have:
- Made adoption easier, by stopping ethnicity being prioritised over other factors - like the ability to provide a stable, loving home.
- Made it easier for adoptive parents to foster a child first – so children can move in with their adoptive family much earlier.
- Forced councils to tell prospective adopters about their entitlements.
- Made extra school funding available for all children adopted from care.
Overall, national adoptions have increased by 63 per cent in the last three years, from 3,100 in 2011 to 5,050 in 2014.
Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands said: "It’s great news that the number of children adopted from care has risen to the highest level yet. That means more children in a secure and loving home, able to get a better start in life.
"The Conservatives in government have been quite right to take the common sense action needed to make adopting easier, for the benefit of children and parents.
"In our own area the number of children adopted has increased from less than 5 per year in 2010 to 20 in 2013-14. That’s more local children benefitting from the love and support of being part of a family."