Guidance

Parental responsibility: guide for schools and local authorities

Guidance for local authorities and schools dealing with adults who have legal rights and responsibilities for a child.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 6 January 2016
• Last updated: 24 August 2023 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Understanding and dealing with issues relating to parental responsibility

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Details

This guidance is for:

• school governing bodies
• school leaders
• school staff
• local authorities
• diocesan boards

It applies to:

• maintained schools – including sixth form and nursery year groups
• academies and free schools – including sixth form and nursery year groups
• maintained nursery schools

It explains:

• who has parental responsibility
• what to do when there are disputes between a number of adults each claiming to have parental responsibility for a child
• who can have access to a child’s educational records

Published 6 January 2016
Last updated 24 August 2023 + show all updates

1. 24 August 2023

   Updated to include guidance on the role of the 'corporate parent', releasing GCSE results to a parent and notifying separated parents about a child moving school.

2. 3 September 2018

   Updated with information about data protection and engaging with parents who may not live with a child.

3. 6 January 2016

   First published.