Why childcare experience matters in adoption
When preparing to adopt, having experience caring for children can be incredibly valuable. It helps you understand what it’s really like to look after children day-to-day, and equips you with practical skills that are essential for parenting—especially when supporting children who may have experienced early challenges.
What kind of childcare experience is needed for adoption
All childcare experience is valuable, but we particularly encourage prospective adopters to gain experience caring for children who are not already known to them, and who fall within the age range they are hoping to adopt. It’s also beneficial to have experience with children who have additional needs, as this can help build confidence and understanding around the types of support adopted children may require.
Volunteering with children outside your immediate circle allows you to develop key skills such as building trust, managing behaviour, and responding to emotional needs. These are all qualities that social workers will look for during the adoption assessment process, and you’ll need to be able to demonstrate them.
Don’t have childcare experience yet?
If you’re considering adoption but feel you don’t yet have enough childcare experience—don’t worry. There are many ways to gain it. Coram Adoption has links to a range of organisations and volunteering opportunities that can help you build the experience you need. Please reach out to a member of the team and they will be able to talk to you about your particular circumstances and help you consider what might be the right plan for you.
You can also make direct contact with the organisations listed below to find out about how you could become a volunteer:
Keen
KEEN run free, fun-filled sports and activity sessions for children aged 5–11 with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Each child is supported 1:1 by a trained volunteer coach. Their sessions take place around London.
About Keen
All Aboard Club
All Aboard Club run train themed sessions for children living with autism and other special educational needs. The sessions involve playing with large train sets. Volunteers help facilitate the sessions.
Volunteer with All Aboard