Yes, we've spoken to our employers (because the agency contacts them on our behalf before considering us in any way to let them know we might be getting a child in the next few years).
What? That's mad, it would have put me off an agency straight away.
It's not just the five days this month - it's not a one-off. They'll also be expecting this for every other stage of the process, it's not feasible.
Eh? No.
The only people benefitting are the adoption agency because they get to feel big and powerful and fuel their ego.
I think your agency don't sound great but if you are going to think this way you won't get through. You sound like That Parent (Jordan says he called you a cunt and threw the chair because you gave him a detention just for asking for help).
Things in adoption happen because either a) It's a very complex process and processes have evolved to deal with conflicting needs, even if you don't see it or b) There is absolutely no money and no staff.
In this process you are absolutely bottom of the pile. Your needs mean nothing except as they serve the child's best interest. There will always be delays because anything remotely relate to the court process or child protection will get SW time first.
Most people are rejected so it's not considered to be likely that a child will be placed with us.
Where are you? If it's in Englandandwales that's nonsense. If your agency told you that I really would be inclined to find another.
Speak to the agency. Ours did the training every two months and it could be taken at any point during approval. On our second adoption they did the training and meetings one to one in the evenings because it was a rush job.
For all I said above about why there are delays you don't want an agency which is hard work and unsupportive. You should expect reasonable communciation. Your SW should be the one person helping you through those issues. If they really aren't helpful or flexible go with a nearby LA or a VA and be choosey- there is huge variation in quality.
If you were pregnant, school would have to let you go to ante-natal appointments. if you needed to go on some kind of CPD, the school would cope.
On a good year, with a really good head, in a school with plenty of capacity the OP might get 5 days unpaid leave. There is not a cat in hell's chance this year. The suggestions about why/how schools should accomodate OP are not useful, I'm afraid- they just won't. In my school we are pretty close to where staff absence means double classes (we were doing that last year even before covid).