Support for adopted children

Our adoption support team is here for you long after the assessment process is complete.

We offer a range of services, including support groups where you can connect with other families, advice lines for quick guidance when you need it most, and educational support to help children thrive in school.

Whatever the challenge, we’re always here to provide the right help at the right time.

For advice, emotional support, or answers to questions about your adoption story, contact our post-order adoption team on 01494 586 626.

The advice line is available Monday and Friday, 10am to 1:30pm and Wednesday, 1pm to 5pm.

If you do not want to talk, you can also send us a message online.

We offer support groups for adopted children aged 7 to 11 and 12 to 18 years old. These are held 3 times a year, during the school holidays.

These groups give children and young people the opportunity to meet others in the same situations and talk about topics that matter to them whilst taking part in fun activities.

We help you keep in touch, whether it's via our letterbox exchange, meetings in person or email or video messages.

Find out more about staying in touch with your birth family.

The Virtual School is dedicated to helping children and young people in care, and those who have left care, reach their full potential.

We work to boost educational achievement and school attendance. We also try to encourage the schools that they attend to have trauma and attachment training, which we can provide free of charge, and guidance to provide the support they need to thrive.

For further support and guidance, view our Post-order education advice leaflet for parents, guardians and carers PDF, 3 MB.

Children who are in care or who have left care are entitled to priority school admissions. This means adopted children should be able to attend the state-funded school of your choice.

Pupil Premium Plus is a government grant to support and promote the education of children and young people who are in care or have left care.

You can read about pupil premium on GOV.UK.

Childline: ChildLine will listen to you and you can tell them your problems. Call them for free on 0800 11 11 or visit their website.

Children’s Commissioner: The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, promotes and protects the rights of children, especially the most vulnerable, and advocates for their views and interests.

Health for Teens: information and advice around health including feelings, growing up, lifestyle and relationships. 

Talk to Frank: everything you need to know about substances, their effects and the law.

YoungMinds: advice and support for young people around mental health.