The move means adopted children and those subject to special guardianship or residence orders will now be afforded the same provisions as children in care – who are already prioritised for school places.
According to the government, anecdotal evidence exists to suggest that some adoptive parents delay applying for an adoption order so they can take advantage of the priority given to looked-after children in the school admissions system.
Schools minister Nick Gibb said up to 5,000 children could benefit from the changes every year.
"Many of these children have had traumatic experiences in their early lives," he said. "They don’t stop being vulnerable just because they are now in a loving home. This will also speed up some adoptions – we know that some adoption orders are delayed until a child has started school because priority currently ends when that child leaves care."
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