How to set up a Home-School Agreement

This section sets out the stages of the process of setting up an agreement. You should also note the law and guidance on home-school agreements.

Schools were required to have a written home-school agreement in place from 1st September 1999, and to invite all registered parents of pupils of compulsory school age to sign the parental declaration as soon after that date as was reasonably practicable. However, if your school does not yet have a home-school agreement it is important not to rush through the process. The consultation which precedes the agreement can be as valuable as the agreement itself, and it is better to have a good agreement implemented later than a sketchy one that was quickly produced.

A possible outline for the process is set out below:

• Discuss with governing body or chair of governors



• Discuss with staff, non-teaching staff and partner agencies



• Consult parents and carers



• Consult with families where English is an additional language



• Consult pupils



• Draft an agreement



• Consult all parents and carers on the draft agreement



• Consult pupils on the draft agreement



• Re-draft the agreement



• Seek final approval from governors



• Arrange for parents to sign the agreement



• Launch the agreement with pupils

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