In the past few weeks, two Serious Case Reviews have been published – one on the murder of an 18-month-old, and the other on the sexual abuse of two children under five. All three were being cared for by relatives under the legal order called special guardianship.
Introduced in 2005, special guardianship is a court order that transfers parental responsibility for a child to the applicant. It lasts until the child is 18. The order gives the guardian parental responsibility, but unlike adoption, the legal relationship with the parents continues, even if practically that means little. The important thing from the child’s point of view is that they have a family that they can call their own.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here