ABSTRACT
Adoption practice has altered almost beyond recognition within the last 25 years, and at last adoption law is being reformed to better meet the needs of children requiring permanent placement outside their birth families. This chapter sets out existing adoption law under the Adoption Act 1976 (AA 1976) and the Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999 (A(IA)A 1999). It outlines the main reforms contained in the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (ACA 2002). When adoption was first introduced into English law in 1926 the objective of the legislation was to provide a permanent and secure home for orphans or illegitimate babies with childless couples, thereby creating new nuclear families. Local authority social workers may be involved in adoption proceedings specifically because adoption is being considered for children on their caseload, or because they may have to prepare the very detailed report required by the court in all adoption cases under Schedule 2 to the Adoption Rules 1984.
