Adoptions from care reach a record high

Almost 4,000 children were adopted from the care system in the year to March, new figures show.

A total of 3,980 children were adopted over the 12 months, a 15 per cent increase on the previous year, when 3,470 adoptions took place.

According to the government, the figure is highest since 1992, when such figures were first collated.

However, the total number of children in care also rose in the year to March – climbing two per cent to reach 68,110 across England and Wales.

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The figure has risen 12 per cent since 2009.

However, of those, 51,000 – or 75 per cent – were in foster care.

Children’s Minister Edward Timpson said: “It is hugely encouraging that the number of children adopted from care has risen to the highest level yet – but too many children are still waiting too long for stable, loving homes. More needs to be done to recruit adoptive parents.”

Meanwhile, other newly published government statistics from the Ministry of Justice, show that, of roughly 70,000 family law cases begun in the three months to June this year, 45 per cent consisted of divorce applications, more than any other category of case.

The average time required for the completion of a care application during the three months was 41 weeks, a hefty 21 per cent drop since the same period last year.