“We feel safe now” – children praise Barnardo’s England adoption services in Ofsted report

• Barnardo’s Adoption England receives ‘outstanding’ report from Ofsted
• “The feedback from our children and families speaks for itself and we encourage anyone thinking of adopting, to consider Barnardo’s” says UK Head of Service Development & Quality

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Ofsted have praised Barnardo’s Adoption Services in England as ‘outstanding’ in a new report.

The inspection, which took place earlier this year and was published in April, highlighted that children have "exceptional relationships with their parents which are built on trust and love" and quoted an adopted child saying “we feel safe now”.

Barnardo’s Adoption Services help families to adopt across England, as well as access to records for adopted adults and birth family members.

One adopter, quoted in the report, wrote: “Staff were genuinely invested in us as a family, not simply in progressing a process. Through Barnardo’s we have formed lifelong friendships with other adoptive families.”

The report added that “the service plays a significant role in promoting stability, identity and emotional wellbeing for both children and adults impacted by adoption”.

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Nicki Williams, UK Head of Service Development & Quality at Barnardo’s, said: “We are delighted with the Outstanding judgement for our five England adoption services. It is much deserved recognition for the excellent work carried out by our teams to support children and families, outlining how we go above and beyond to provide emotional, practical and therapeutic support.

“The feedback from our children and families speaks for itself and we encourage anyone thinking of adopting, to consider Barnardo’s.”

During the 2024/2025 year, Barnardo’s supported more than 359,000 children, young people, parents and carers, through 669 services and partnerships.

Find out more about adopting with Barnardo’s.

Barnardo’s also provides foster homes across the UK, and will be hosting Let's Talk Fostering, a free online event where you can learn all about fostering, on 13 May at 1pm.

Notes to editor

Barnardo’s has been changing childhoods and changing lives for over 150 years. Barnardo’s operates a variety of children’s services, including a voluntary adoption agency.

The voluntary adoption agency operates 5 offices in England which are registered with Ofsted:

• Barnardo’s Adoption North England
• Barnardo’s Adoption Midlands & South West
• Barnardo’s Adoption London, East & South East
• Barnardo’s Making Connections
• Barnardo’s CAFIS

The three regional offices recruit, prepare, assess and approve prospective adopters, and offer a variety of support services to children and families, both before and after the making of an adoption order.

Barnardo’s Making Connections provides tracing and intermediary work for adults who were placed for adoption by the agency.

Barnardo’s CAFIS is commissioned to provide adoption support, including intermediary and access to records for adopted adults and birth family members.