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<p>The department collects and publishes data on the number of children looked after
in local authority care in England. The latest figures are published in our annual
statistical release here: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions"
target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions</a>.
Information on the number of children looked after who were adopted during the year
between 2010 and 2020 is in Table H1: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/fast-track/9f60e85a-74b8-44b8-7ed5-08d962ee4bef"
target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/fast-track/9f60e85a-74b8-44b8-7ed5-08d962ee4bef.</a>
This is the first release of data covering the time period of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Information on the number of children who have been adopted from a care setting outside
England is not collected by the department.</p><p>We recognise children adopted from
care, including those adopted from care overseas, can remain vulnerable and have high
levels of need. We are committed to ensuring they have the support they need to thrive
in education.</p><p>In September 2018, we introduced new duties on local authority
virtual school heads and designated teachers to promote the educational achievement
of pupils who are no longer looked after because they are the subject of an adoption,
special guardianship, or child arrangements order. This includes support for children
who have been adopted from outside of England.</p><p>The school admissions code has
recently been amended so that, as of 1 September 2021, children adopted from state
care outside of England have the same priority in school admission as children who
were previously looked after in England. The school admissions code is available to
view here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-admissions-code--2"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-admissions-code--2</a>.</p><p>We
recognise that children adopted from outside England and Wales do not currently attract
pupil premium plus. The department is aware of this issue and is actively exploring
whether pupil premium plus can be extended to these children. In the meantime, schools
should support the needs of all pupils, regardless of whether they are eligible to
attract pupil premium plus, as support from schools is not contingent on receipt of
this funding.</p>
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