MORE children than ever before have been found new homes across the North-East over the past year.

New figures show that 390 children in the North East were placed in loving stable homes in the region over the last 12 months.

The total is a new record, more than 100 up from last year, and the Government claims it is a result of reforms it has introduced in the past year.

The largest jump in the region was in Durham, where the number of looked-after children who were adopted leapt from 40 to 75.

In Darlington the number doubled from 10 to 20, in Gateshead it went up from 15 to 35 and in Newcastle-upon-Tyne the figure increased from 35 to 60.

Hartlepool saw the figure rise from 10 to 15, Redcar and Cleveland from 15 to 20 and Stockton-on-Tees from 20 to 30.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: “Today’s figures show a significant and sustained rise in the number of adoptions.

“This means more of our most vulnerable of children in the North-East finding the loving and permanent homes they so desperately need.”

She said the Government had promised to remove delay and frustration from the process for both children and adopters and claimed the figures showed they were doing just that.

She added: “The system is working more quickly, as well as providing more support to families after an adoption has taken place.”

Over the past year children have also been spending less time in care while waiting to be adopted, with the average dropping by two months.

Children and families minister Edward Timpson – who has two adopted brothers himself – said: “It’s great to see that the number of children adopted from care in the North East has risen.

“However we refuse to be complacent and we know there is more to be done.”

He added: “I’m all too aware that welcoming a vulnerable child into your home is a rewarding but challenging experience.

“That’s why we’re putting in more support than ever to ensure that families get a fighting chance including better support services focussed on the needs of the family.”

Reforms introduced in the last 12 months include ensuring ethnicity is not prioritised, ensuring all children adopted from care are eligible for extra funding at school, and empowering adoptive parents to choose the school that will best meet their child’s needs.