School & Education: templates and forms

For a parent in Northern Ireland who needs their child to miss school days in term time — a family wedding or funeral abroad, a serious illness in the family, a parent's leave from the forces. A request to the principal: it gives the dates and the day of return, explains the circumstances you believe are exceptional and asks for a written decision before the absence. The Department of Education's guidance lets a principal authorise term-time absence only in exceptional circumstances and no longer has a code for an agreed family holiday. Sent by email or handed in well in advance.

For a parent in Northern Ireland who believes their child has, or may have, special educational needs the school cannot meet from its own resources. A request to the Education Authority for a statutory assessment, the step towards a statement of special educational needs: it sets out your reasons and evidence, asks for the decision within the time limits that apply, and asks for reasons and your appeal rights if the Authority refuses. Posted first class; the Education Authority also has a free online form. Sold blank, as it holds a child's health data.

For a parent in Scotland who wants to see, or have a copy of, their child's educational record. A request under regulation 5 of the Pupils' Educational Records (Scotland) Regulations 2003: the record must be made available to see, free, within 15 school days, and a copy given within 15 school days, with a fee only where data protection law would allow one. Many councils have their own free request form, which you can use instead. Sent by email to the head teacher, who passes it to the council where the council holds the record.

For a parent in Northern Ireland whose child has been off school ill and whose school asks for a note. A short letter to the school giving the dates of the absence and the day you first told the school, and asking for it to be recorded as an absence because of illness. It does not describe the illness; if the school wants evidence, its attendance policy says what. Handed in or emailed. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds health data DocMuse does not collect.

For a parent in Scotland who believes their child needs more support at school than they are getting. A request to the education authority under section 8 of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 to establish whether the child has additional support needs, whether a co-ordinated support plan is required, or both, with any particular assessment you ask for. The council must comply unless the request is unreasonable. Enquire gives free advice first. Sent by recorded delivery. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds a child's health data.

For a parent in Northern Ireland who wants to see, or have a copy of, their child's educational record held by a school. A request to the principal under the Northern Ireland pupil records regulations of 2007: a grant-aided school must make the record available within 15 school days of a written request, and any charge for a copy may not exceed the cost of supply. For a school the regulations do not cover, the letter asks for the same information under the UK GDPR instead. Sent by email or handed in at the school office.

For a parent in Northern Ireland whose child has been refused a place at a primary or post-primary school they applied for. An appeal against the Board of Governors' decision to the independent admissions appeal tribunal the Education Authority sets up: it names the decision and sets out why the school's published admissions criteria were not applied, or not applied correctly — the question the tribunal decides. Lodge it by the deadline in the Education Authority's letter, through EA Connect, on its paper form or as this letter, posted first class with the decision letter.

For a parent in Scotland whose placing request for a school — in P1, S1 or during the school year — has been refused, or not decided in time. A reference to the education appeal committee under section 28C of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980: it identifies the decision, sets out your grounds, asks the committee to overturn the refusal and asks for the hearing papers in good time. It must reach the council within 28 days of your receiving the refusal; many councils also have their own appeal form. Sent by recorded delivery, with the decision letter and your evidence.

For a parent in England, Wales or Scotland whose child has been off school ill and whose school asks for a note. A short letter to the school giving the dates of the absence and the day you first told the school, and asking for it to be recorded as authorised absence for illness. It does not describe the illness. In England statutory guidance says schools should not routinely ask for medical evidence. Handed in or emailed. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds health data DocMuse does not collect.

For a parent anywhere in the UK who wants a grandparent, a childminder, a friend or another adult to collect their child from school. A signed letter to the school naming each person allowed to collect the child, when the authorisation applies, and how they will prove who they are, which stays in force until you withdraw it in writing. Handed in at the school office. Many schools have their own collection form or app; use it first if yours does.

For a parent in Wales whose child has been refused a place at a school they applied for, at the usual starting age or during the school year. An appeal under section 94 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, the Welsh admission appeals regulations of 2005 and the Welsh Government's School Admission Appeals Code, to the clerk of the independent appeal panel: it identifies the decision, sets out your grounds, asks for the place and for the hearing papers in good time. Posted first class by the deadline in the decision letter.

For a parent in England who wants to see, or have a copy of, their child's educational record held by a school. A request under regulation 5 of the Education (Pupil Information) (England) Regulations 2005: the governing body of a council-maintained school must let you see it free and give you a copy, at no more than the cost of supply, within 15 school days. For an academy or free school, the letter asks for the same information under the UK GDPR instead. Sent by email or handed in at the school office.

For a parent in Wales who needs their child to miss school days in term time. A request to the head teacher under the Education (Pupil Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2010: it gives the dates and the day of return, explains the reason, and asks for a written decision before the leave starts. The school decides each request on its merits and may allow up to ten school days a year for a holiday; absence it does not authorise can lead to a £60 penalty notice from the council, £120 if paid after 28 days. Sent by email or handed in well in advance, in English or in Welsh.

For a parent in Wales who wants to see, or have a copy of, their child's educational record held by a maintained school. A request to the head teacher under regulation 5 of the Pupil Information (Wales) Regulations 2011: the record must be made available to you free, and a copy given at no more than the cost of supply, within 15 school days of your written request. It also asks for any other personal data under the UK GDPR. Sent by email or handed in at the school office; you may write in Welsh.

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 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 a parent in England whose child has been refused a place at a school they applied for, in the normal admissions round or during the school year. An appeal under section 94 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and the School Admission Appeals Code 2022, to the clerk of the independent appeal panel: it identifies the decision, sets out your grounds, asks for the place and for the hearing papers in good time. Posted first class, with the decision letter and your evidence; many councils also take appeals online.

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.