For many adopted children, school can feel challenging. Adopt London South is the regional adoption agency, working with ten south London Local Authorities to provide their adoption services and they have launched a new resource to help SEND practitioners, teachers, and school staff understand what adopted students of all ages experience every day. This initiative aims to build compassion and understanding within schools so that adopted students feel heard, valued, and supported.

Recognising the Challenges

Adopted children can face unique difficulties in school that impact their learning and relationships. Many feel emotionally overwhelmed, struggle with concentration, or find it hard to make friends. Sometimes, these challenges are misunderstood as behavioural issues, when in reality, these children may need extra support, patience and more importantly, their behaviours being understood from a different lens and perspective. By listening to their voices, schools can better understand and address their emotional and educational needs.

The Project’s Purpose and Approach

This co-design project set out to amplify the voices of adopted students. Adopt London South met with children and young people who attend the support group The Adoptables. These children aged 8-16 shared their experiences of education and helped to summarise key messages that came up frequently for children of all ages, genders, and from across the 10 south London boroughs.

By gathering and sharing their personal insights and experiences, Adopt London South has created co-produced poster alongside our adopted young people for school environments that highlights the most common challenges adopted students face. This poster is intended to be a starting point for discussions and to help schools adopt simple strategies for support and understanding. The goal is to help schools create a trauma-informed and nurturing environment for adopted students.

How Schools Can Make a Difference

With the insights gathered from these students, this project aims to change how adopted students are understood and supported in schools. We hope teachers will become proactive allies, creating caring spaces where adopted children feel comfortable and able to thrive. In the long term, we hope more schools will explore adoption support services and invest in trauma-informed and therapeutic training for teachers.

As one of the project leaders, Tracey Ogleton, said, “It’s not rocket science—it’s about small changes, compassion, and understanding that can make all the difference. By listening to the voices of adopted students, schools can create an environment where every student feels seen, heard, and empowered to succeed.”

You’re invited to download the poster and share it in any educational setting— Adopt London South hope that by working together we can help make schools supportive spaces for all.