Councils in Barnet and Camden are to pilot a scheme allowing prospective parents to search children on the National Adoption register for the first time.

The councils are among a group of 19 local authorities nationwide selected to pilot the scheme allowing approved adopters to learn more about children waiting for adoptive parents.

From September 1, adopters will be able to find out about children’s hobbies, likes and dislikes, and hear them speak and laugh in videos and pictures to help match children with their new families. The pilot will run for nine months.

The Adoption Register is currently only used by social workers to find homes for children waiting to be adopted.

Cllr Reuben Thompstone, chairman of Barnet Council’s children, education, libraries and safeguarding committee, said: “We have pioneered several government initiatives and I am delighted that we are supporting this pilot.

“It has the potential to be a significant development in adoption practice and I think everybody is keen that we speed up the adoption process and move children from the care system to supportive family environments as smoothly as possible.”