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Written question asked by Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 April 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 April 2025 (named day). It was answered by Janet Daby (Labour) on Friday, 11 April 2025 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the expiration of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund on foster (a) carers and (b) children.

Answer

On 1 April, the department announced that the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) would continue into 2025/26, with a budget of £50 million. A further announcement about arrangements for applications will be made as soon as possible. We remain committed to supporting families, who play an essential role in providing stable and loving homes for children in need. This funding will enable eligible families to apply for support in the coming year.

The ASGSF provides support for adopted children and those under special guardianship or child arrangement orders. The only group of foster carers and foster children who can access the ASGSF are those on the ‘foster to adopt’ pathway, where the plan is for the foster carer to adopt the child they are caring for if the court makes a placement order. Foster carers who obtain a special guardianship order can also ask that an application be made to the fund for a child they previously fostered.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
43143
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Children Carers Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk