Types of adoption

When a child cannot be looked after by their birth parents, they might be fostered or adopted. Adoption gives a child in care the chance to become part of a forever family. Learn more about fostering.

​​​​Adoption transfers all legal parental rights and responsibilities from birth parents, or a local authority, to adoptive parents. It’s a life-long commitment supported by an adoption order, which is granted through a court and is permanent.

Fostering for Adoption

Fostering for Adoption is when a child is placed with prospective adopters who are also approved as foster carers. It means that children who may need adopting can live with a potential permanent family earlier than a conventional adoption. Find out more about fostering to adopt.

A special guardian is legally responsible for taking care of a child until they reach the age of 18. Special guardians can be a member of the child’s family, or a family friend. A Special Guardianship Order is granted by a court before someone can take on this very important role.

Special Guardianship

When a child is cared for by a special guardian they are no longer looked after by the local authority. All parental rights are given to the special guardian. Older children who do not want to be separated from their birth families are more likely to be looked after in this way.

Unlike adoption, birth parents remain a child’s legal parents with parental responsibilities, however their ability to exercise these responsibilities is extremely limited.

Special guardianship gives a child a loving and stable home without legally separating them from their birth parents.

Adopting a child with additional needs

The term ‘additional needs’ is often misinterpreted or misunderstood. It covers a wide spectrum of needs and behaviours.

All children can have additional needs at times. These can be to do with their development, learning, communication, behaviour, or emotional wellbeing. Neurodiversity is also often referred to as an additional need.

There are also children with physical disabilities who may require particular types of support, including adaptations to their home. Additional needs can be called special educational needs (SEN) or special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Additional needs can be short or long term. Some children may need extra help during their childhoods, and others may still need support as adults.

Many of the thousands of children in care waiting for an adoptive family have additional needs. They tend to wait much longer to find a forever home than other children. Adopting a child with additional needs is incredibly rewarding and gives them a chance to flourish.

For more information read the Voluntary Adoption Agency’s advice guide on adopting a child with additional needs.