The ASGSF Update

We received an update from the Department of Education about the changes to the ASGSF on Monday 14th April 2025.

We understand that these changes may cause concern, and we want to reassure you that we remain fully committed to working with families and professionals to make the most of the support available. At Adoption in Merseyside, we are actively planning for what the future may look like in light of these changes.

Our managers and professional teams are working closely together to explore sustainable and effective ways to continue supporting families and meeting their needs in the most meaningful way possible. We’re also working with our partner Local Authorities and providers to consider the impact of these changes, and we’ll keep you informed as we gather more information and build a clearer picture of the way forward.

Our staff will be reviewing all relevant applications and will be in touch with you, where necessary, in due course.

FAQ for families

What has happened to the ASGSF?

The Department for Education has limited the funding available for adopted children. The Fair Access Limit will be capped at £3,000 per child for 2025/2026, compared with £5,000 previously.

Do the funding changes impact me?

If you have applied for ASF funding, this will affect your application for 2025/2026. The overall Fair Access Limit will be capped at £3,000 per child.

What if we have applied for matching funding?

Unfortunately, this will also be impacted. They are no longer accepting match funding applications for therapy that costs more than £3,000 FAL, or for specialist assessments that cost more than £2,500.

Do I need to do anything if we have applied?

No, your dedicated worker will make the changes to your application. The team are working on changing the applications and will submit them based on the new limit.