E, F, G & H (Children), Re (Fostering or Adoption)

Fiona McCreath (instructed by BCP Council) for the Applicant Emma Southern (instructed by Preston Redman LLP) for the 1st Respondent Natalie Wood (instructed by Jacobs & Reeves Solicitors) for the 2nd Respondent Omar Malik (instructed by Aldridge Brownlee LLP) for the 3rd Respondent Gareth Bishop of Battens Solicitors Limited, separately representing EA Adam Langrish (instructed by Abels Solicitors) for the children's guardian Hearing dates: 20 � 22 January 2025 ____________________

a) The local authority seeks care orders in respect of all of the children. The final care plans are that the older three children remain in foster care. The local authority issued a placement application in respect of H on 14 November 2024 and its final care plan is for adoption.

c) The mother had opposed the local authority's applications and sought to have all four children returned to her care. However, at the start of this hearing, I was told that the mother had taken the very difficult decision not to oppose the making of care orders for all four children. She did, however, continue to oppose the making of a placement order in respect of H.

d) Mr B opposed the local authority's final care plan for H in his statement of 25 November 2024 and supported H being returned to the mother's care. At the start of the hearing, he indicated that he was not seeking that H be returned to his care, and in effect that his position was aligned with that of the mother.

e) Mr A did not oppose the making of care orders in respect of his children, again after careful deliberation.