Adoption England has published a new report, Evaluation of Early Permanence Projects, exploring how Early Permanence (EP) is being developed and delivered across the country. Funded by Adoption England and carried out by the University of East Anglia and the Institute of Public Care at Oxford Brookes University, the report looks at how EP can support children to move into stable, permanent homes at an earlier stage.

Early Permanence brings together approaches such as concurrency and fostering for adoption, aiming to reduce delays and avoid multiple placement moves for young children. The evaluation highlights the benefits of this approach, including stronger early attachments and improved stability, while also recognising the challenges for carers and birth families, particularly around uncertainty and contact arrangements.

The report also reflects on the progress made over the past 12 years, noting that while the use of Early Permanence has grown, there is still variation in how it is used across different areas. Through the Early Permanence grants programme, launched in 2022, Adoption England has supported 19 projects to strengthen systems, processes and practice. This evaluation focuses on 11 of these projects, offering early insights into what is working and where further development is needed.

This report provides valuable learning for the sector and will help inform future practice, supporting continued improvements in how children are matched with permanent families as early as possible.