DfE slashes adoption support grants

Campaigners are warning that a Department for Education decision to slash grants under the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) will leave traumatised children without meaningful therapy. The overall Fair Access Limit will be capped at £3,000 per child, compared with £5,000 previously. Until now, the fund covered up to £2,500 for a specialist assessment plus up to £5,000 for therapy, subject to the limit. The blow follows a last-minute confirmation on 1 April that the ASGSF would continue this year with a budget of £50 million – with the delay causing significant concern among adoptive families and prompting campaigners to create a petition calling for the renewal of the fund. Read more.