Adoption UK has issued a statement in response to recent figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which show that there has been a 6% increase in the overall level of adoptions in England and Wales.

Janet Smith, Adoption UK Director of Adoption Support, said:

“It is encouraging that the number of adoption orders increased in 2011. Adoption offers positive outcomes for children from the care system, providing them with a permanent family that many of them might not have if they remained in the care system.

“We need to remain committed to recruiting more adoptive parents but it is important to remember that any focus on recruiting adopters must go hand-in-hand with good support packages, including financial ones, both to encourage new adopters and ensure the long-term success of adoptive placements.

“Furthermore, we must also be mindful that the ONS figures on adoption include not just children adopted from the care system but also adoptions by relatives and step-parents, whereas Government statistics do not.”