A note outlining the rights of employees to statutory adoption leave (both ordinary adoption leave (OAL) and additional adoption leave (AAL)) and statutory adoption pay (SAP) on the adoption of a child. The note considers the effect of adoption leave on an employee's terms and conditions of employment, their rights on returning to work and the effect of disrupted adoption placements.

For information on time off to attend adoption appointments, see Practice note, Time off for adoption appointments.

With respect to children placed on or after 5 April 2015, parents may be able to opt in to the shared parental leave and pay scheme after a minimum period of two weeks on adoption leave. For further information, see Practice note, Shared parental leave.