Judge writes version of ruling for parents with learning disabilities after making order for adoption
The Family Court has ruled that a young girl, who has parents with learning difficulties, should be placed for adoption on the condition that face-to-face contact between the child and her parents is arranged by the local authority at least once a year.
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In Maisie (simple judgment for parents with learning difficulties), Re [2025] EWFC 222 (B) (19 June 2025), Her Honour Judge Jessica Pemberton provided a simple judgment for the parents, who have learning difficulties.
The judge also issued a contact order under section 26 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002.
The case concerned a baby girl referred to as Maisie, who is nearly one year old. Her parents (referred to as Becky and Sam), live with Becky’s dad.
In the judgment, HHJ Pemberton said: “The social workers feel that it would be too difficult for Becky and Sam to look after Maisie both now and in the future. Maisie's children's Guardian, Sharon, agrees with the social workers and says that Maisie should now be placed with a carer or carers who have been approved as adopters.”
After considering a number of placement options, including a ‘shared lives arrangement’, whereby parents are supported in caring for a baby by a family in the family home – the judge concluded that the best option was to place Maisie for adoption.
She said: “I have decided that I agree with the social worker and the children's Guardian that the best option for Maisie is that she should be placed for adoption. I know that Becky and Sam will be desperately upset about this. I want to make it clear that this is not because I think they have done anything wrong or that they would deliberately harm Maisie in any way. I just think that they need too much support for themselves.”
She continued: “I think that having someone else in the home with them and Maisie all the time would be really difficult for Becky and Sam and would not be fair on Maisie. It would be a very false and strange environment for her.”
The judge agreed that the local authority should promote direct face to face contact between Maisie and her parents at least once a year, and that only adopters willing to agree to this would be suitable for Maisie.
She said: “I was pleased that [Maisie's social worker] told me how important it was that any placement for Maisie must be one that will keep seeing her parents. I agree with that, and I am going to make a court order to say that that must happen so that it is clear to anyone who is learning about Maisie that she must see her parents at least once a year (and I would like the possibility of more visits to be explored with any prospective adopters).”
Lottie Winson
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