Great to see Alan giving a plug for kinship care and Tuesdays parliamentary reception on the "This Week" TV programme Thursday night.

I am travelling to London for the FRG reception next week. If any other kinship carers who post here are planning to attend, perhaps we could meet up for a coffee beforehand?

Although not a name widely known, Rupert Hughes CBE who died in August this year was the senior civil servant perhaps most responsible for bringing the Children's Act 1989 into law. Many posters on here have had their problems dealing with specific provisions of this Act, but it is generally regarde...

As Robin says, you will be a great loss to FRG. Thanks for the real differences you have made to many children's lives; I hope returning to study doesn't come too hard, and very best wishes for the future.

Good to see these new education threads as we look after a granddaughter with SEN (now SEND!) on a RO. I am sure we will find FRG info and advice as useful as it has been in other areas.

This web site might be useful https://www.gov.uk/foster-carers/help-with-the-cost-of-fostering . Although the minimum rates are given, I understand that most local authorities have schemes where extra payments are made for various "skill levels". I suggest that you look at your own local a...

I understand the government has announced that local authorities will now have to pay foster allowances up until the child is 21. I assume that the same will not apply to RO & SGO allowances? Once again it looks as though new rules will put kinship carers at a disadvantage.Would it be possible f...

Bonnie, Are you receiving, or have you applied for, Disability Living Allowance for your grandchild? The form is quite long and complicated but it is worth persevering with to get the allowance. I think that the physio that you are having to do may help the child qualify for DLA. A useful web site t...

The following is rather legalistic, but might help: Baptism of a Child when One Parent Objects or Does Not Consent: Guidelines for Clergy The Canon Law of the Church of England has never required the consent of a parent before a child is baptised or else emergency baptism would often have proved imp...

nannylove, I cannot remember your exact legal status with the grandchildren, but I think it will all come down to who has PR. Have just noticed that you have a SGO, so I think that your "overiding PR" may give the right to have grandchildren christened. However, it would surely be best to ...