Records for the number of children adopted in the capital have been broken but some west London boroughs have declined.

Figures released yesterday (September 30) by the Department for Education show 560 children in London have been placed in loving stable home in the last 12 months - up from 490 in the previous year.

The majority of west and north-west London’s nine boroughs have followed the trend but Kensington and Chelsesa, Brent and Hounslow have all had a dip in the number of children adopted in 2014, while Westminster has remained at a steady 10 children adopted.

Government changes to the adoption system have been attributed to the overall rise in adoption rates which have come under heavy criticism in previous years.

Children are also spending less time in care waiting to be adopted, with the average length of waiting time being reduced by two months.

Kensington and Chelsea went from five children adopted in 2013 to under five this year, Brent went from 20 to 10 while Hounslow went from 15 to 10.

The biggest increase in west London was in Ealing where 25 children were adopted, up from 10 in 2013, Hammersmith and Fulham went from 15 to 20, Harrow from five to 10 and Hillingdon from 15 to 20.

Education secretary Nicky Morgan, said: “The figures show a significant and sustained rise in the number of adoptions. This means more of our most vulnerable of children in London finding the loving and permanent homes they so desperately need.

“We also promised to remove delay and frustration from the process for both children and adopters. The figures show we are delivering on that promise. The system is working more quickly, as well as providing more support to families after an adoption has taken place.”

A spokesman for Kensington and Chelsea, where adoptions have dropped, explained the borough has fewer children in care than most other London boroughs because of the small population and strong emphasis on, where possible and safe to do so, keeping children with their immediate or extended families.

He added: "As a consequence of these circumstances the number of our children adopted has often been smaller than other boroughs. Kensington and Chelsea has 100 children in care. Typically other boroughs in London have between 300 and 600. It is important to note however that, as a proportion of our children in care, the number adopted is similar to that of other boroughs.

“We are always keen to hear from families who can provide a child with a loving family home on a short-term or longer basis and would urge anyone who is thinking about fostering or adopting to contact us.”

Coalition changes to adoption rules have been implemented over the past 12 months, including:

  • Ensuring ethnicity is not prioritised over other factors such as a stable, loving home
  • New rules were introduced requiring councils to actively consider fostering for adoption places, allowing children to move in with their adoptive family much earlier
  • All councils are required to tell prospective adopters about their entitlements
  • The Government extended Pupil Premium funding and priority school admissions so all children adopted from care are eligible for extra school funding and giving parents more options to choose the school which will best meet their child’s needs