Government funding for therapy for adopted children in England has sparked backlash from charities, who have criticized the decision to slash the amount families can access by 40%. Adoption UK expressed distress over the news, highlighting the additional strain placed on families who were already enduring a lengthy wait to learn the fate of the adoption and special guardian support fund.
Previously, eligible children could access £2,500 for specialist assessment and £5,000 for therapy, but the latest changes have reduced the therapy limit to £3,000 per year and eliminated separate funding for specialist assessment. The government defended the move as necessary to ensure the fund’s financial sustainability in order to provide targeted support to more vulnerable children.
The Department for Education communicated the difficult decision to stakeholders in an email, citing a significant increase in demand for the fund as the reason behind the reduction in funding. The number of children receiving support through the scheme rose to nearly 20,000 last year, up from around 13,000 the year before.
Amid uncertainty about the fund’s future, the government eventually confirmed its continuation into the next fiscal year. However, Adoption UK raised concerns about the direct impact of the funding cut on children and young people who have faced adversity. The charity’s CEO, Emily Frith, criticized the decision as short-sighted, particularly during a time when adoptive families are grappling with unprecedented challenges
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