Education-Related Parenting Contracts
Parenting contracts for truancy and misbehaviour; parenting orders for truancy and exclusions and serious misbehaviour in schools; and penalty notices for truancy and the ‘whereabouts’ of excluded pupils have been introduced as a balanced package of support and sanctions to reinforce parental responsibility for school attendance and behaviour.
Parenting contracts are supportive measure that enables formal agreements between parent and school or parent and local authority (LA) in which each side sets out the steps they will take to secure an improvement in the child’s attendance and behaviour. Some parents seek such help themselves, but others need a more directive approach.
Parenting orders are already available for parents prosecuted and convicted of a school attendance offence. New parenting orders for behaviour complement this by enabling LAs and schools to apply to the courts for civil parenting orders for parents whose child are excluded from school or for serious misbehaviour. These provisions complement parenting contracts and orders arranged by Youth Offending Teams for bad behaviour in the wider community.
Failure to secure regular attendance of a registered pupil is already a criminal offence for parents. Penalty notices provide an alternative to prosecution and a much quicker and cheaper way of sanctioning parents who are not hard-core offenders. This should result in an overall increase in the number of sanctions applied, with consequent reductions in truancy. New provisions under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 places a duty on parents to ensure that their excluded child is not found present in a public place during school hours, without a reasonable excuse, during the first five days of any exclusion. If found in such circumstances then the LA or school can issue a penalty notice to the parents. Failure to pay a fixed penalty notice could lead to a prosecution.
Designated local education authority officers (typically Education Welfare Officers), head teachers (and deputy head teachers & assistant head teachers authorised by them), police officers and Community Support Officers can issue fixed penalty notices. All prosecutions must be brought by LA.
Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 can be viewed at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2003.htm
Education and Inspection Act 2006 can be viewed at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006.htm
2007 Guidance on Education-Related Parenting Contracts, Parenting Orders and Penalty Notices - This supercedes the 2005 version and takes effect from the 1st September 2007
Parenting Contracts and Orders Guidance 2007 - this guidance has been produced by the Ministry of Justice and is about the operation of parenting contracts and parenting orders arising from crime and anti-social behaviour.
Click here to view data on Parenting Contracts, Fast-track, Penalty Notices and Parenting Orders
How to Source Parenting Provision - A guide to sourcing suitable provision aimed in particular at Local Authority and school staff wishing to support parents in order to improve their children's behaviour or attendance at school
Parenting Contracts (Education) Fact Sheet - This document answers questions relating to parenting contracts for example: What is a Parenting Contract?, When is it appropriate? etc.
Sample Parenting Contract - A detailed example of a parenting contract.
More examples can be found on Teachernet
Sample Discussion Paper for Parenting Contracts - A paper containing questions that should be discussed in relation to parenting contracts
Parenting Contract a Guide for Parents 2007 - Every mum, dad and carer needs support from time to time, especially if their child is having problems at school.
Parenting Contracts - A Guide for Parents are also available as downloads in:
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Parenting Orders (Education) Fact Sheet - This document answers questions relating to parenting orders for example: What is a Parenting order?, When is it appropriate? etc.
