Parental Notification Letter Template (Free)

✉️ Free template from The Safeguard Hub , DSL must decide whether parental notification is safe before sending. Blue boxes are guidance notes only, they will not print.
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PARENTAL NOTIFICATION LETTER · Free template · The Safeguard Hub (safeguard-hub.org) · Use only where safe to do so · Blue boxes are guidance notes and will not print
Before using this letter: The DSL must consider whether notifying the parent or carer would place the child at greater risk. Where the parent or carer is the subject of the concern, where police or social care have advised against notification, or where the child has expressed a view that notification would harm them, do NOT send this letter without first consulting MASH. The DSL must record the decision and the reasoning whether notification is given or withheld. That record belongs in the child's secure safeguarding file. A decision not to notify is as significant as a decision to notify and must be documented in the same way.
Older pupils and the child's wishes: For secondary-school pupils, consider whether the child has expressed a view about parental notification and whether that view should be respected. A child may have sufficient maturity and understanding (Gillick competence) to make decisions about their own care, including whether their parents are informed. Fraser guidelines apply where the DSL is considering acting against the child's expressed wishes. Document the child's stated wishes, the DSL's assessment, and the reasoning for the decision reached. If in doubt, seek advice from MASH before contacting the family.

[School name]
[Address line 1]
[Address line 2]
[Postcode]
[Telephone]
[Date]

Dear [Parent / Carer name] ,

Re: [Child's first name] [Child's surname] , [Year Group / Class]

Choose one of the two opening options below and delete the other. Option A is for cases where a referral has been made; Option B is for cases where a concern has been recorded but no formal referral made at this stage.

Option A: Referral made
I am writing to let you know that [School name] has a duty under the Children Act 1989 and Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 to refer concerns about a child's welfare to children's services where the threshold for intervention may be met. I am contacting you because we have referred a concern about [Child's first name] to [Local Authority / MASH name] 's Children's Services. This referral was made on [date] .

Option B: Concern recorded, no referral
I am writing to let you know that a member of staff at [School name] recorded a welfare concern about [Child's first name] on [date] . We take the wellbeing of every child in our care seriously and wanted to make you aware of this so that we can work together in [Child's first name] 's best interests.

I want to reassure you that our priority at all times is the safety and wellbeing of [Child's first name] . We are committed to working openly and honestly with families wherever we can, and to keeping you informed of any relevant developments.

Only include the paragraph below if a social worker has been allocated or is expected to make contact.

You may be contacted by a social worker from [Local Authority name] Children's Services. Their role is to work with families to make sure children are safe and well supported. You are not required to speak with anyone before taking legal advice if you wish to do so, and you can contact a solicitor at any time.

If you have any questions or concerns, or if you would like to speak with me, please contact the school on [telephone number] and ask for the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Yours sincerely,

___________________________________
[DSL name]
Designated Safeguarding Lead
[School name]

After sending: Retain a copy of this letter in the child's safeguarding file (not educational file). Record the date, method of delivery (post / hand-delivered / email, only if secure), and the name of the member of staff who sent it.

Statutory references: Children Act 1989 s.17 and s.47 · KCSIE 2026 · Working Together 2026, Chapter 2
Free template from The Safeguard Hub (safeguard-hub.org). Customise for your school's context before adoption. This is general information and not legal advice. Where anything here differs from your local safeguarding children partnership procedures, follow your local procedures. Last reviewed July 2026.