shes and feelings. If the local authority considers that adoption may be appropriate, it will need to follow the procedure set out in Part 2 of the AAR. 8.55. Because of the time needed to complete the procedures under the AAR, it may be that the three months period of notice of intention will expire before the agency has reached its own determination, and the foster carer may have issued their adoption application before the local authority has been able to issue a placement order application. The local authority will need to consider all the circumstances, including the age of the child, and the degree of parental opposition (if any) to the adoption, in deciding the most appropriate course of action. Even if the local authority issues a placement order application before the foster carer’s adoption application has been heard, it would be open to the court to adjourn the placement 143 order application and proceed to hear the foster carer’s adoption application. In this case the foster carer’s application would still technically be a non-agency one. It should be borne in mind, however, that for the purposes of adoption support, the child in these circumstances falls within the definition of an ‘agency adoptive child’ unless the local authority opposes the application, see ASR 2.1. Alternatively, the court may adjourn the foster carer’s adoption application and hear the placement order application first so that, if the placement order is granted, the foster carer’s adoption application can proceed as an agency application. Partner applications 8.56. Section 4A of the 1989 Act defines ‘step-parent’ as the spouse or civil partner of the child’s parent. However, an adoption application may be made by the partner of the child’s parent, whether or not they are married or in 