We are pleased to confirm that on Thursday 4 September, Janet Daby, then Minister for Children and Families at the Department of Education (DfE), announced that the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) will continue for the 2026 to 2027 financial year and remain managed through the national arrangements.
Adoptive families can now make ASGSF applications for therapeutic work and assessments which start in 2025 and cross into 2026. We are waiting for further information from the DfE about when applications for therapy that start in 2026 can be made.
“I am pleased to confirm that applications to the ASGSF that run into the next financial year (2026-27) can now be made, as part of a further continuation of the scheme next financial year, of which full details will be set out shortly.”
Janet Daby, 4 September 2025
There is no further information regarding any decisions or adaptions to the Fair Access Limit, and the current Fair Access Limit for the 2025 to 2026 year is still in place. This means that the total Fair Access limit for a child remains £3,000. There is no separate fund for assessments and no ability for match funding of additional funds from the DfE.
The government has also stated a commitment to launch a public engagement process in 2026 to explore how well the fund is working, what the evidence is showing so far and what more information is needed to support long term decision making.
Adopt South West will continue to share updates and information as it comes from the DfE.
- You can read the full statement from the DfE about ASGSF on the UK Parliament website.
- You can also read the debate about ASGSF that was held in Westminster on 4 September.