Letter to school — safeguarding & child arrangements

From: [YOUR NAME], parent of [CHILD'S NAME], year group [YEAR], class [CLASS]

Address: [ADDRESS — or 'address withheld, known to the school office']

To: The Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead, [SCHOOL NAME]

Date: [DD / MM / YYYY]

Dear [HEADTEACHER] and [DSL],

I am writing to notify the school, in confidence, of domestic abuse in my child's household and to ask the school to take a number of safeguarding steps under Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024 (KCSIE) and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023.

I am [CHILD]'s [mother / father / parent with parental responsibility]. I share parental responsibility with [OTHER PARENT'S NAME].

1. [CHILD] is a victim of domestic abuse within the meaning of section 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 — that is, a child who sees, hears or experiences the effects of abuse between adults in their household.

2. The relevant facts are: [BRIEF SUMMARY — keep it factual, avoid characterisation].

3. The following orders / agreements are in place: [NON-MOL / OCCUPATION / CAO / PROHIBITED STEPS / SPECIFIC ISSUE]. Copies are attached.

4. The following agencies are involved: [POLICE — incident refs; CHILDREN'S SERVICES — social worker; IDVA / MARAC; GP].

• Record this notification on [CHILD]'s safeguarding file (CPOMS / MyConcern / equivalent) and share it with all staff who have day-to-day contact with [CHILD], on a need-to-know basis.

• Apply Part 1 of KCSIE 2024 (responding to concerns about a child) and the school's child protection policy.

• Only release [CHILD] at the end of the school day to: [LIST NAMED ADULTS]. Do NOT release [CHILD] to [NAMED PERSON] unless I confirm in writing, or unless a court orders otherwise.

• Refuse requests for collection, information, or photographs from anyone not on the named list. Refer such requests to me and to the DSL.

• Share information with [CHILD]'s other parent only to the extent required by section 576 of the Education Act 1996 — and not in a way that puts me or [CHILD] at risk. If in doubt, please seek advice from your local authority's Designated Officer (LADO).

• Be alert to signs of distress, regression, or disclosures by [CHILD], and record and report them in line with KCSIE Part 1.

• Notify me promptly of any contact from [NAMED PERSON], any breach of the above arrangements, or any safeguarding concern.

Please confirm in writing within 5 school days that this letter has been received, recorded and shared with the DSL. I would welcome a meeting within 10 school days to agree a written safeguarding plan.

Yours sincerely,

[SIGN AND PRINT NAME]