Adoption Barometer 2026: the early stages (Wales) Prospective adopters in Wales have continued to be strongly positive about their experiences of the approvals process as a whole, and 2025 saw a reduction in the number who felt the process was so challenging they wondered whether they could continue. Most felt that their child’s transition to their home was handled well, and all respondents who had received their child’s life journey materials rated them as adequate or good. Statement UK wide Wales My approvals process ran smoothly and with no delays. 39% 44% My social worker understood and supported me during the approvals process. 88% 91% I feel that everything possible was done to find the right match for me and my adopted child. 85% 85% I feel as though I was given all the information I needed about my child before they moved in. 77% 74% The approvals process prepared me well for becoming an adoptive parent. 71% 78% Our introductions were handled well and ran smoothly. 78% 81% I have a written adoption support plan in place. 38% 31% * I received life story materials by or soon after the adoption order. 58% 69% * fewer than 20 respondents were eligible to answer the relevant question. What went well? “The training around trauma and how prepared adopters need to be is invaluable.” “Understanding attachment, regulation and the impact of early experiences has helped us parent with empathy rather than expectation, as well as to advocate for our children from very early on.” “Our social worker guided us through everything and explained things to us and the wider family in detail and with care and compassion.” What could be improved? “The training offered is good, but it’s offered at the wrong time. You have to do training to pass panel, then wait two years for a match and no training is required nearer to the actual adoption that is tailored to the needs of the child you are matched with.” “I would have liked more training on parenting an adopted child alongside a birth child.” “Agencies need more staff and resources to avoid delays . . . all the delays in our journey were completely avoidable had the agency completed administrative tasks in time.” Historically, early permanence routes to adoption have been less common in Wales. The publication of the Welsh Early Permanence framework did not initially result in an increase in Adoption Barometer respondents considering this route. However, this year, 11% of respondents were considering early permanence – more than double the number in any previous year. Comments from those pursuing this route reveal that while some adopters are very committed to the concept of early permanence, the practice is not yet fully embedded and some issues remain to be ironed out. “I enquired about it from the beginning having done my own research and my social worker tried to put me off saying she didn’t agree with it and hadn’t completed the training so if we wanted to proceed with it, we’d likely have a different social worker. I persisted as I knew it was the right route for us and now her opinion of Welsh Early Permanence has completely changed.” “The early permanence scheme needs more work to . . . make it more financially stable for adopters to go through.” Back to Wales overview Manage Cookie Preferences