kgrounds, and to practise their religion – both in a formal place of worship and in the home. Maintaining continuity of the heritage of their birth family is important to most children; it is a means of retaining knowledge of their identity and feeling that although they have left their birth family they have not abandoned important cultural, religious or linguistic values of their community. This will be of particular significance as they reach adulthood. Single prospective adopters 4.9. Single prospective adopters of both genders can have much to offer an adopted child. They may be able to focus all their time on meeting a child’s needs and have 11 Selwyn, J., David Quinton, D., Harris, P., Wijedasa, D., Nawaz, S., Wood, M., (2008) Pathways to permanence for children of black, Asian and mixed ethnicity: dilemmas, decision-making and outcomes. 85 a good level of physical and emotional availability. Some children may find it easier to relate to just one parent or prefer not to relate closely to a mother or father figure if there are negative associations from the past. Issues of emotional and financial support, health and future close relationships will need to be carefully explored with single prospective adopters. Older children and prospective adopters 4.10. Where older children need adoptive parents, older and more experienced prospective adopters could take on the care of these children if they enjoy sufficient health and vigour to meet the child’s varied demands. Remember, there is no upper age restriction on applying to become adoptive parents, but they must be at least 21 years old. The more mature person has a greater experience of life; some may be established in their careers and others may have already brought up children of their own and have developed good