Information, support and community for adoptive parents of school aged children. Expand your community and build a support network through local and online groups and events, find education resources tailored to your child's needs, and find information and guidance on a range of topics from attachment to school transitions including real experiences and stories.

 

Useful links

Join the AUK community

Information, support and community at every stage of your adoption journey. Membership benefits include access to webinars, local and virtual community groups, events and the Adoption Today digital magazine.

Events and AUK Talks

From exciting adventures with the whole family to online talks on a variety of topics, see what's going on in your area or sign up for an online event.

Talk to someone

We know the adoption journey can be challenging, so if you need to talk to a human being, our Information and Support Line is here to offer support, guidance and advice.

0300 666 0006

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a condition that can occur when a fetus is exposed to alcohol prenatally. It can happen at any point of pregnancy and often before the pregnancy is known.

AUK's therapy service

Our Psychology and Therapy Hub (PATH) provide a evidence-based, trauma-informed therapeutic support service for individuals and families affected by adoption and families caring for children who cannot live with their birth families, including kinship and long-term foster carers,

  

Information and resources

It is widely accepted that adoption has a lifelong impact, and that many adopted people need additional support in order to thrive. Adoptive families are entitled to support. 

Therapeutic parenting is the name commonly given to the style of parenting that children with experience of trauma and attachment difficulties can require and respond best to.

For adoptive parents, special guardians and long-term foster carers who have had a false allegation made against them by a child they are parenting. 

 

Education resources

Adoption UK is committed to providing free resources for education professionals, parents and guardians to share expertise and broaden understanding about the needs of care-experienced learners and the strategies that will help them to thrive in education.

Our resources are arranged by nation so you can be sure you are accessing the most relevant information.

 

FASD education factsheets

Find factsheets written by the FASD Hub in collaboration with our England, Wales and Scotland education leads.

 

Listen to more episodes

Real stories

Blog: A good school transition

Kate-Ellen looks back on a well-handled move from primary school to high school.

Blog: Flexible working - your rights and how to ask for it

Working Families CEO, Jane van Zyl, talks about flexible working – what it really means, how it can improve the health and wellbeing of adoptive parents and carers, what to ask for and your rights.

Blog: Learning isn't confined to school

Education is not confined to the walls of a school. Real life opportunities like a visit to the dentist and the bringing home of a new puppy are learning experiences that allow our children to process what has happened to them, fill in developmental gaps and move on with their life, wiser and more resilient.