Read more on the Government's proposed reforms:
Key information for families and those working in the sector: www.gov.uk/government/p...
The schools white paper: www.gov.uk/government/p...
A promotional graphic about SEND and kinship care. It features a quote from a 15‑year‑old named Jamie from Liverpool, who lives with his grandmother. The quote explains that his new school teaches in a way he can understand, with smaller classes and approaches that suit his learning needs. The image includes branding from the APPG on Kinship Care and Family Rights Group.
Today, the Government has published reforms to special educational needs and disabilities provision.
Jamie, 15 from Liverpool & raised by his nan, who spoke to our APPG in October, highlights here the difference inclusive education made to him.
We’ll be looking at the proposed reforms closely.
Read more about what kinship carers told us: frg.org.uk/news-blogs-a...
The Government has been consulting on reforms, and details have already surfaced in the media ahead of the schools white paper.
We’ve been hearing directly from children and young people, kinship carers, parents and frontline organisations about the challenges they face.
A dark blue graphic titled “SEND and kinship care” features a quote from Clare, a kinship carer in West Sussex, describing how carers often lack information about the children’s needs: “You’re flying blind, the school is flying blind.” Logos for the APPG on Kinship Care and Family Rights Group appear at the top.
Our APPG SEND inquiry has been shining a spotlight on the experiences of kinship families raising children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Clare is one of the kinship carers who shared her experience with MPs and Peers — highlighting how carers are often “flying blind”
Press notice: www.gov.uk/government/n...
Consultation: consult.education.gov.uk/adoption-and...
"We will scrutinise the proposals closely and continue working to ensure every child who needs therapeutic support can access it.”
“Relatives and friends stepping in as kinship carers tell us how hard it is to secure therapy, counselling, and other support for the children. Too often, help is limited to children who have been in care, and when support is available, it can feel like a system not designed for kinship arrangements
“The Government has also set out proposals to improve the mental health and wellbeing of adopted and kinship children, many of whom have faced significant early adversity.
“The decision to extend the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund for two more years, with £55 million confirmed for 2026–27, is positive for eligible families and a welcome shift after last year’s uncertainty.
Graphic from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Kinship Care announcing a two‑year extension of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund. Includes a quote from APPG Chair Melanie Onn MP which reads: “The decision to extend the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund for two more years, with £55 million confirmed for 2026–27, is positive for eligible families and a welcome shift after last year’s uncertainty. “The Government has also set out proposals to improve the mental health and wellbeing of adopted and kinship children, many of whom have faced significant early adversity. “Relatives and friends stepping in as kinship carers tell us how hard it is to secure therapy, counselling, and other support for the children. Too often, help is limited to children who have been in care, and when support is available, it can feel like a system not designed for kinship arrangements. “We will scrutinise the proposals closely and continue working to ensure every child who needs therapeutic support can access it.”
Our Chair @melanieonnmp.bsky.social has welcomed the ASGSF funding confirmation after last year's uncertainty, and said our APPG will scrutinise the proposals to ensure all kinship children can access the support they need.
8. Improving value for money to ensure every pound is being spent efficiently, sustainably, and on families
6. Require clinical adoption support therapies to be compliant with NHS evidence standards. Ensure all interventions are well evidenced and assessed.
7. Devolve Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund funding and responsibility to regional and/or local decision makers
4. Enhance plans to better meet children's needs, setting clear expectations for families and services via Practice Guides
5. Standardise needs assessments for adopted and eligible kinship children. Commission social care, health, and education support based on their needs.
1. Develop a baseline offer of parenting support and training at the point of adoption and kinship care.
2. Strengthen peer and community support for adopted children and parents.
3. Provide proactive support for adopted and kinship children at key life stages.
Informational graphic from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Kinship Care announcing that the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund has been confirmed for two more years. It states that the fund provides therapeutic support for eligible adopted and kinship children and that a consultation on future reforms has begun.
Today the Government announced a consultation on adoption & kinship care support, including on the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF).
The ASGSF will continue for two more years to 2028 with £55 million for 2026/27.
There are 8 proposals for future reform. See thread for more
“This is a simple but important step towards better understanding how kinship children fare in school and to improve support for children and their families.”
“We conveyed that to the Minister and the Government announced that kinship care will be added to the school census. This means that where families share that information with their child’s school, their kinship care status will be recorded."
Announcement graphic with a quote from APPG Chair Melanie Onn MP about kinship care being added to the school census. “Young people raised in kinship care have told us how frustrating they find it having to repeatedly explain to new teachers and school staff why they are not living with their parents. They told us they wanted it to be recorded on the school register to make that easier. We conveyed that to the Minister and today the Government announced that kinship care will be added to the school census. This means that where families share that information with their child’s school, their kinship care status will be recorded. This is a simple but important step towards better understanding how kinship children fare in school and to improve support for children and their families.” Includes APPG Kinship Care and Family Rights Group logos.
Our Chair @melanieonnmp.bsky.social welcomed the change:
“Young people have told us how frustrating they find it having to repeatedly explain to new teachers and school staff why they are not living with their parents. They told us they wanted it to be recorded on the school register"
Awareness graphic with a quote from Jamie, who lives with his nan and younger brother. He shares how his school misunderstood his behavior without recognizing his kinship care background. “I would like schools to recognise kinship. I feel that the school always saw me as a naughty boy, but behind that I had so much going on. I found it really hard to explain why I was the way I was. I couldn’t really understand it myself.” Logos for APPG Kinship Care and Family Rights Group are shown.
Jamie, living with his nan and younger brother👇
Advocacy graphic featuring a quote from Mollie, age 14, who lives with her great aunt. She expresses frustration about repeatedly explaining her kinship care situation to teachers. “We worked hard to educate teachers about what kinship is. In my school I got fed up always having to explain that I didn’t live with my mum. I want to be able to tell them once and not keep repeating it.” Logos for APPG Kinship Care and Family Rights Group appear at the top.
Mollie, 14, living with her great aunt👇
Informational graphic announcing that kinship care will be included in the school census. Blue background with logos for APPG Kinship Care and Family Rights Group. Central text explains this change will help schools identify children living with relatives or friends and improve support.
More good news! Last night, during consideration of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill in the House of Lords, the Government confirmed kinship care will be added to the school census. The young people we spoke to in October told us they were keen to see this happen...
“We have been making that case to Government and its excellent to see that they will now strengthen the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill so that children and families must be consulted when local authorities are developing their local offer.”
"... in helping design support available in their area. We’ve also had many conversations with kinship carers frustrated by the battles to secure support that meets their family’s needs.
“The Kinship Local Offer is a major milestone in improving recognition and support for children raised by relatives and friends in kinship care.
The young people our APPG recently met were really clear that they want to be involved in decisions about their lives and...
Announcement graphic from the APPG on Kinship Care, supported by Family Rights Group, featuring a quote from Melanie Onn MP. It celebrates a new government amendment strengthening the kinship local offer, ensuring children and kinship carers are consulted in local support design. Melanie's quote reads: “The Kinship Local Offer is a major milestone in improving recognition and support for children raised by relatives and friends in kinship care. The young people our APPG recently met were really clear that they want to be involved in decisions about their lives and in helping design support available in their area. We’ve also had many conversations with kinship carers frustrated by the battles to secure support that meets their family’s needs. We have been making that case to Government and its excellent to see that they will now strengthen the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill so that children and families must be consulted when local authorities are developing their local offer."
Our chair @melanieonnmp.bsky.social has responded to the Government's amendment, which will be debated when the Bill returns to the House of Lords next week👇
Young people raised in kinship care speaking at our October session were clear they wanted to be involved in decisions about them.
Rosa said: “We want to be heard to make changes for us and other young people like us”.
Over the course of the Bill's passage through Parliament, our APPG has written to Ministers, raised the issue in parliamentary debates, and amendments have been tabled by APPG members @munirawilson.bsky.social @bobbywdean.bsky.social and Lord Hampton.
Informational graphic from APPG on Kinship Care, supported by Family Rights Group, announcing a government amendment requiring local authorities to consult children and families when developing their kinship local offer.
Good news! We've been working with young people, carers & @familyrightsgp.bsky.social to ensure local authorities consult with families in their area when developing their Kinship Local Offer. The Government has now tabled an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing & Schools Bill to require this.
