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Adoption & kinship toolkit · free

The Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASF)

The ASF is government funding for therapeutic support for children who were adopted from care or left care under a special guardianship order, and their families, in England.

General information for families in England, not legal or financial advice. Rules, rates and local policies change, so always check with your council, Regional Adoption Agency or GOV.UK. Adoption UK, Kinship and your local adoption support service can also help, for free.

Who it's for

  • Children adopted from care in England (or from abroad and living in England), up to age 18, or 25 with an EHC plan.
  • Children who left care under a special guardianship order, and some under child arrangements orders.

Exact eligibility rules are set by the Department for Education and can change, so check the current ASF guidance on GOV.UK.

What it can pay for

  • Therapeutic support, such as therapeutic parenting training, play, music or creative therapies, and dyadic developmental psychotherapy (DDP).
  • Specialist assessments, for example to understand trauma, attachment, FASD or sensory processing needs.

There is a limit on how much can be spent per child each year, and the government changed the limits and rules in April 2025.

ASF limits for 2025 to 2026 (April 2025 to March 2026)

  • £3,000 per child per year fair access limit for therapy (down from £5,000).
  • Specialist assessments of up to £2,500 can be funded, but only within that same £3,000. There's no longer a separate assessment allowance on top.
  • Extra match funding for exceptional cases is no longer available.
  • The total fund for 2025 to 2026 was about £50 million across England.

2026 to 2027 (current year): the Department for Education announced £55 million for the fund in February 2026, and the same £3,000 per child per year limit applies.

Sources: GOV.UK ASGSF guidance and the Department for Education announcement of 14 April 2025. The council or RAA applies to the fund for you; families can't apply directly. Rules can change, so ask your council or RAA what applies now and check GOV.UK. Figures last checked: November 2026.

How to get it

  1. Ask for an assessment of adoption support needs from the council or RAA responsible for you. Families can't apply directly.
  2. They assess your family's needs and agree a support plan with you.
  3. They apply to the fund for the therapy or assessment and arrange a provider.
  4. Review how it's going and ask for further support if needed.

Responsibility usually sits with the council that placed your child for the first three years after the adoption order, and then with the council where you live. If you're unsure, ask your local council.

Using ASF reports for school support

Reports from ASF-funded assessments can be strong evidence of your child's needs in an EHC needs assessment request or appeal. Ask for written copies.

Letter: ask for an assessment

Ask for an adoption support assessment (to access ASF therapy)

Councils or Regional Adoption Agencies apply to the fund after assessing your family's support needs.

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Optional support for you, the parent

Running on empty? You don't have to carry it alone.

Hilary Jones is an integrative psychotherapist supporting adoptive parents. Online, or walk-and-talk sessions around Sheffield. She offers a free 30-minute taster session, with no commitment, to see if she's the right fit.

Book a free taster session

SEND Compass is independent. Hilary is an external practitioner and her own terms apply. We may receive an introductory fee if you book with her, at no extra cost to you. Nothing you've typed here is shared with her. Therapy for your child may be fundable through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, so ask your Regional Adoption Agency.