Potential adopters will be able to foster babies

Posted:

6 July 2012

New adoption laws will allow babies to be fostered by prospective adopters.

It is hoped that this will reduce the amount of disruption to the early lives of adopted children.

During the adoption process, which takes over 2 years on average to be completed, babies can experience several changes in the people taking care of them.

But the Prime Minister’s plans would see babies placed under the foster care of their likely adoptive family from the beginning of the process.

Cameron said: “These new plans will see babies placed with approved adopters who will foster first, and help provide a stable home at a much earlier stage in a child’s life.

 “This way, we're trying our very best to avoid the disruption that can be so damaging to a child's development and so detrimental to their future well-being.

 “I’m determined that we act now to give these children the very best start in life. These babies deserve what every child deserves: a permanent, secure and happy home environment to grow up in.”

The government vowed to take decisive action after it was recently revealed that only 60 babies under the age of one were adopted in 2010/11.

Ministers will look to change the law with haste so that fostering by potential adopters becomes standard practice.

Education Secretary Michael Gove, who was adopted, said: "I want as many babies as possible to have the best start in life. I know that stable and loving families provide the ideal environment for young people to achieve their full potential.

 "My hope is that children don't have to move again and again before finding a permanent home.

 "The Government owes it to children to encourage more parents to consider adoption. In reforming the system we are determined to make sure the child's interests are paramount."