Draft an agreement

Once the consultation process has been completed, an agreement can be drafted.

Use the following checklist to assess your draft:

• Are all the issues identified by the DCSF for inclusion in the agreement featured?
  
  
• Have you checked that the agreement does not include terms and conditions which the DCSF considers to be unlawful, unreasonable or unacceptable?

Click here to see the guidance on what should and should not be included.

• Does it appear to be a genuinely balanced agreement?
  
  
  • Aim to have the same number of points, or as near as possible, in each column
    
    
  • Are the points of equal value? Do not include a list of very specific requirements for one party and a set of vague aspirations for another.
    
    
  • Does the agreement reflect the views of those consulted equally? It is important that the draft agreement does not appear to be something imposed by the school on parents.
    
    
• Are the number of issues addressed by the agreement about right? Most contain between seven and twelve respective responsibilities. The agreement should be short enough that it is easy to read and remember.
  
  
• Think about the language of the agreement.
  
  
  • Has the use of educational jargon and acronyms been avoided?
    
    
  • Are all points as short and clear as possible?
    
    
  • Are the statements easily understood by all pupils, parents and carers?
    
    

    Remember to take comments about the language of the document seriously in consultation.

• Does the agreement read as a positive and helpful document that promotes home-school partnership?
  
  
• Has the name of the person to be contacted by the pupil, parent or carer with questions about the agreement been made clear? Including a forename adds a personal touch.

• Does the school's telephone number feature prominently?



• What is the best format for the agreement? Separate sections make it easy to make the sections relevant (especially when pupils are signing the agreement) but responsibilities listed together emphasise partnership.



• Think about the appearance of the agreement.



• What will appear on its front and back covers?
  
  
• What can be done to make the agreement bright and eye-catching?
  
  
• Is it possible to employ the services of a graphic artist to give it a professional finish? A professionally produced agreement would demonstrate the value placed upon it by the school. The Home School Association or Friends of the School might cover the cost, or sponsorship could be sought.
  
  
• Otherwise, art students at a secondary school or all pupils at a primary might compete to design the agreement's look.
  
  
• How many copies of the agreement will be required?



• Once the agreement has been signed, parents should be allowed to keep it. There is no need for a duplicate copy to be stored in school, though some record should be kept of how many parents have signed. If records are kept of which parents have and have not signed, remember that you may not penalise a parent or child for not signing in any way.
  
  
• How much funding can be allocated to produce the agreement? Remember that in future years copies of agreement will only have to be produced for new parents, until the agreement is reviewed.

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