Drive to help adopters

A new package of support for people in England who want to adopt and provide more children with a stable, loving home without delays has been announced by the coalition government.

It is looking at ways to give adopters a more active role in the adoption process, with the chance to make a connection with a child in advance and play a greater role in finding the right match.

To this end, there will be more paid leave for people adopting a child – bringing adoption pay and leave in line with that of biological parents when it comes to maternity and paternity leave, giving parents and children more time to bond in those early days.

Adoptive parents will also get the right to time off work to meet the children they are set to adopt before they move in with a family.