Application: templates and forms

For a parent in England who believes their child has, or may have, special educational needs that the school cannot meet from its own resources. A request to the council under section 36 of the Children and Families Act 2014 for an education, health and care needs assessment: it sets out your reasons and evidence, and asks for the decision within six weeks and for your appeal rights if the council refuses. Posted first class; many councils also have a free online form. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds a child's health data.

For anyone who wants information held by a council, government department, NHS or HSC body, police force, school or other public authority in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or a UK-wide body, including its offices in Scotland: a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, also covering environmental information, asking for a reply within 20 working days. Many authorities have their own free online form or FOI email address. A Scottish public authority — the Scottish Government, a Scottish council, NHS Scotland or a Scottish school — answers under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 instead: use the Scottish request for it.

For a parent in England who needs their child to miss school days in term time. A request to the head teacher under regulation 11 of the School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024: it gives the dates and the day of return, explains the circumstances you believe are exceptional, and asks for a written decision before the leave starts. Leave is granted only in exceptional circumstances, and unauthorised absence can lead to a penalty notice of £80 per parent per child, £160 if paid after 21 days. Sent by email or handed in well in advance.

For anyone in the UK who wants a copy of the personal data an organisation holds about them: an employer or former employer, a bank, a council, a landlord, a phone company or a parking operator. A request under Article 15 of the UK GDPR: it asks for all your data, or the parts you name, and the information about how it is used, and reminds the organisation that it has one month and may not charge. Sent by email to the data protection officer. The ICO publishes a free template too.

For a parent in Wales who thinks their child has additional learning needs. A request to the child's maintained school under the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 and the Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales: it asks the school to decide whether the child has additional learning needs and, if so, to prepare an individual development plan (IDP), normally within 35 school days, and asks how to seek a reconsideration if the answer is no. Sent by email to the ALNCo. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds a child's health data.

For a council taxpayer in England or Wales: a letter to the council asking for the single person discount (25% off when you are the only adult at home), a discount because the other adults are disregarded, such as full-time students, or an exemption, from a date you give, with any backdating and refund. Most councils have a free online form that does the same; this letter suits those who prefer writing or have a case the form does not fit. Sent first class.

For a contract-holder in Wales who has not received the written statement of their occupation contract, needs a further copy, or received one that leaves out terms the Act requires. A landlord must give the written statement within 14 days of the occupation date (section 31 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016). If it is late, the landlord owes compensation of a day’s rent for each day from the occupation date, up to two months’ rent (section 35), and cannot give a valid no-fault notice while it is missing. The Welsh Government’s model written statements are free.

For a worker in England, Wales or Scotland who wants to book paid holiday: a dated written request giving the first and last day and the number of working days, asking for written approval. Unless your contract or holiday rules say otherwise, the Working Time Regulations 1998 ask for notice of twice the length of the leave, and let the employer refuse only by counter-notice as long as the leave. Acas explains the rules free. Send it by email or hand it in, keeping a copy.

For a taxpayer in the UK who cannot pay a tax bill in full on time: a letter to HM Revenue and Customs asking for a Time to Pay arrangement, saying what is owed, why you cannot pay it all now, the monthly amount you propose and your income and outgoings. HMRC's free online service takes a Self Assessment debt of £30,000 or less within 60 days of the due date (HMRC's own limits on 28 October 2026, not law); otherwise HMRC deals with it by phone, and this letter sets out your proposal in writing. Sent first class.

For a worker in England, Wales or Scotland whose employer, or former employer, has not given them their papers: one letter asking for any of missing payslips (section 8 of the Employment Rights Act 1996), a P60 for a tax year, the P45 after leaving, and the written statement of employment particulars (section 1). Fill in only the lines you need; the others drop out. It gives 14 days and names the next steps: a tribunal reference, and telling HMRC. Sent first class and by email.

For a worker in England, Wales or Scotland with a disability or long-term health condition who needs changes at work — equipment, hours, duties, the workplace, how meetings are run: a letter asking the employer to make reasonable adjustments under section 20 of the Equality Act 2010, describing the difficulty at work (not a diagnosis) and the changes asked for, and offering a meeting or an occupational health referral. Access to Work, a free government scheme, can also help. Hand it in and email it. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds health data DocMuse does not collect.

For an employee in England, Wales or Scotland who wants to change their hours, days or place of work — part-time, compressed hours, home or hybrid working: a dated, written statutory request under section 80F of the Employment Rights Act 1996, giving your present pattern, the change and when it should start, and saying whether you made another request in the last 12 months. It is a right from your first day, and the employer must decide within two months. Hand it in and email it.

For an employee in England, Wales or Scotland who needs time off beyond their holiday — a long trip, a family matter, study — and wants their employer's agreement: a letter asking for unpaid leave between two dates, with the return date, and asking the employer to confirm in writing your return to the same job and what happens to holiday, pension and benefits. There is no general right to unpaid leave; carer's leave, parental leave and time off for dependants are separate statutory rights. Hand it in and email it.

For a private tenant in England. Since 1 May 2026 a tenant may ask in writing to keep a pet, and the landlord must answer in writing within 28 days and must not refuse unreasonably (section 16A of the Housing Act 1988, added by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025). The letter describes the animal and how it will be cared for, offers references and asks for a written decision, with reasons if it is a refusal. If the landlord asks for more information, or for a superior landlord’s consent, the deadline can move to seven days after the reply. No pet fee or separate pet deposit may be charged.

For a private tenant in England who wants to take in a lodger, or sublet a room or the whole home. Most tenancy agreements require the landlord’s written consent first, and subletting without it can breach the tenancy and become a ground for possession. The letter says what you ask for, who would move in, where and for how long, confirms you stay responsible for the rent and will do the right to rent check, and asks for an answer within 14 days. Not for council or housing association tenants, for whom unlawful subletting can be a criminal offence.

For a leaseholder of a flat or house in England or Wales who pays a variable service charge and wants to see how it is spent. Under sections 21 and 22 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 the letter asks the landlord or managing agent for a written summary of the costs for a service charge year and, if you already have a summary or the year-end accounts, for facilities to inspect the accounts, receipts and other supporting documents and take copies. Failing without reasonable excuse to comply is an offence. The Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) publishes free model letters.