Since April 2015, it's been a "day one" right for an employee to take up to 52 weeks statutory adoption leave, 39 weeks of which is eligible for statutory adoption pay.. If you're jointly adopting a child with your partner, you or your partner can take adoption leave while the remaining partner may be able to take paternity leave or shared parental leave. There is no qualifying period for this right. You're able to start your adoption leave either when the child starts living with you or upto 14 days before they are placed with you. Statutory adoption pay for the first 6 weeks is paid at 90% of your average gross earnings then at the rate of £139.58 per week (or 90% of gross weekly earnings, whichever is lower), for the next 33 weeks. You also have the right to return to the same job and priority to be offered suitable alternative employment if a redundancy happens during the leave. National Adoption Week 2016 runs 17th - 23rd October. The theme is embodied by the hashtag #SupportAdoption. As in previous years, the need to find families for some of our most vulnerable children remains at the heart of this year’s event.