When a school makes a referral to children's social care, the parents or carers of the child must ordinarily be informed — unless doing so would place the child at greater risk. Getting the tone and content of this communication right is important: it needs to be factual, non-alarmist, and clearly explain the school's statutory duty without implying blame. This template provides a starting point for DSLs, with guidance on when it should and should not be used.
When should parents be notified of a safeguarding referral?
Statutory basis: Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026
✓ General principle — parents should be informed
Working Together 2026 establishes that parents and carers should generally be told about a referral to children's social care, including the reason for it.
⚠ Exception — where notification would increase risk
Do not notify parents in advance where the concern involves suspected abuse by a parent or carer, suspected FGM, suspected forced marriage, or any situation where pre-notification could compromise the child's safety or a police investigation.
→ Always check with MASH before notifying in complex cases
If in doubt, speak to the duty social worker at your local MASH before contacting the family. They will advise whether notification is appropriate and at what stage.
What the letter must not say
{[
["Must not imply guilt or make unsubstantiated allegations","The letter notifies — it does not determine. Do not use language that suggests the parent has done something wrong unless this has been formally established"],
["Must not reproduce the exact wording of the referral","The referral may contain sensitive information about third parties or police intelligence. Quote only what is appropriate to share"],
["Must not commit to specific timescales or outcomes","Social care timescales are outside the school's control. Do not state when social care will contact the family or what the outcome will be"],
["Must be written without legal or technical jargon","Plain English — remember that parents may be distressed and may share the letter. Use accessible language and a professional but human tone"]
].map(([title, sub]) => `
`).join('')}
✗ ${title}
${sub}
Free template vs Complete Policy Suite
| Feature | Free Template | Complete Suite (£19.99) |
|---|---|---|
| School name and DSL pre-filled | ✗ | ✓ |
| Guidance notes on when to use / when not to use | ✗ | ✓ |
| Alternative version for when parents cannot be notified | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI-customised for your school | ✗ | ✓ |
| Includes all 4 other policy documents | ✗ | ✓ (5 documents) |
Get the premium letter — customised for your school
School name, DSL details, and guidance notes pre-filled. Available as part of the Complete Policy Suite — all 5 documents for £19.99.
Get Complete Policy Suite — £19.99 →Further reading
Find Your MASH →
Local MASH contact details for every local authority in England
Section 47 vs Section 17 →
Understanding child protection thresholds
Responding to a Disclosure →
The complete protocol for staff when a child discloses abuse
Child Protection Policy →
The main statutory policy your school must have