Amendments

In January 2026, information was added in Section 3, Examples of Adoption Support to highlight that the DfE has extended the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund initially until March 2027, with a new fair access limit of £3000.

In January 2026, this chapter was updated in line with local procedure. 

This chapter was updated in July 2025.

In July 2025 this chapter was reviewed and updated in line with local procedure.

This chapter was updated in July 2025 with a link to DBS guidance leaflets - GOV.UK in Section 4.4, Concluding the Investigation. 

This chapter was reviewed and updated in line with local procedure in July 2025.

This chapter was updated in July 2025 to include a link to the Disclosure and Barring Service Guidance Leaflets - GOV.UK in the Related Guidance Section. It was also reviewed and updated in line with local procedure.

In July 2025, this chapter was reviewed and updated in line with local procedure.

In April 2025, this chapter was reviewed and updated in line with local procedure.

In January 2025, information was added to Section 6, Checks, with details on how to request information about an applicant from Ofsted. Section 6.1.5, Overseas Checks, was also updated in line with local guidance.

Section 4.2, Procedural Fairness was updated in January 2025 in line with case-law.