Adoption
Being adopted is where a child (or a group of brothers and sisters) who can’t be brought up within their birth family, legally become part of your family, permanently.
You, the adoptive parent(s) become the child's legal parent(s) or carer(s) with the same rights and responsibilities as if the child was born to you.
Adoption is an option where you can give a child (or children) a safe and loving home.
Support and advice is available with adoption
Family Adoption Links Leicestershire can support you all the way through your adoption journey.
A nationwide charity that connects people across the adoption community and supports adopters and adoptees.
Help for children who’ve been adopted.
The Virtual School works with children and young people and all the people who support them to improve the education of children in care. They support early years settings, schools, carers and social workers the help children and young people to achieve their best.
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Fostering
Being a foster parent means that you care for a child as part of your family. Children living in foster care remain the legal responsibility of their local authority and their birth parents.
Support and advice is available to help you foster a child
We are family - Join us
The Virtual School works with children and young people and all the people who support them to improve the education of children in care. They support early years settings, schools, carers and social workers the help children and young people to achieve their best.
Private Fostering
What you need to know if you - or someone you know - have a child or young person living with you who is not a close relative.
There are a range of helpful leaflets for you to find out more: leaflets
Further information can be found on the Leicestershire County Council Website: https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children/fostering/private-fostering
Special guardianship order
A special guardianship order (SGO) is made by the court to allow a child to go and live with someone else, other than their parents, on a long-term basis.
This could be a grandparent, close relative or a family friend, and can mean the child may still have links with their parents. The child will usually live with their special guardian until they’re 18 years old.
Support and advice is available with SGOs
For support and further information, contact your social worker, link worker or the local authority that your Special Guardianship Order (SGO) was agreed with. For Leicestershire you can contact: 0116 305 3051
The Virtual School works with children and young people and all the people who support them to improve the education of children in care. They support early years settings, schools, carers and social workers the help children and young people to achieve their best.
Other helpful information
Your local support group
There may be a fostering or adoption support group near you.
Support and advice is available near you
Support for adoptive and foster families in Leicester and Leicestershire.
Support for adoptive and foster families | How to be a penguin
A leading UK fostering charity that brings together everyone involved in the lives of children and young people who are fostered.
Find out more about what life as an adoptive parent is really like.
