In November 2025, the Westminster government commissioned the Right Honourable Alan Milburn to author a report exploring the reasons for the increase in young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) and to make recommendations for policies that will increase opportunities for young people.

Adoption UK responded to the call for evidence for this report, drawing on years of research among adoptive families and adoptees across the UK which has found that, in every nation, young adoptees are consistently twice as likely to be NEET as their peers.

Our response focused on specific barriers to accessing post-16 education, training and work that are faced by many adopted young people:

• A school system that does not enable some young adoptees to meet their true potential
• Lack of suitable post-16 options, especially for those with special educational needs or who did not achieve higher grades in their school examinations
• Undervaluing and lack of access to vocational qualifications both at school and in post-16 education and training
• Lack of transition support to enable adopted young people to move smoothly from school into post-16 options
• Lack of specific support in post-16 settings for care experienced learners, including adoptees – even where additional support is available in schools, it is not always available at college or sixth form
• Lack of support from wider services, especially mental health services

To improve the situation for young adopted students, our consultation response recommended:

• A greater range of meaningful and fulfilling options for young people needing entry level courses
• More work experience and workplace-based learning opportunities
• More emphasis on life skills and soft skills as preparation for life and work
• More vocational offers both in school and at post-16
• A wider choice of settings at post-16, including smaller, more personal settings with individualized support
• Improvements to mental health support services and ensure young people are able to access children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) until the age of 21 to ensure continuity of care through the transition to adulthood
• Ensure that support targeted to care-experienced children in schools is extended to include post-16 settings

The consultation phase of this inquiry closed at the end of January 2026. It is not yet known when the report will be published.