Involving Parents and Carers

Your role as parents and carers in your child's education

Dealing with schools can be a source of concern, especially if you’re dealing with issues that affect the well-being of your child or young person. We all agree that children and young people need a safe place where they can ask questions and talk openly, without fear of judgement.

The right and natural place for a child in your care to discuss the topics and issues which surround RSE is with you, in the home - or doing the things you enjoy together.

Even then sometimes it is tough to know how to get the conversation started. It might be as simple as giving your child time to talk about their experience in school each day.

 

The legal requirement since September 2022 for your child to participate in RSE

The Welsh Government confirmed in 2020 that there would be no parental right to withdraw their children from RSE as part of its new Curriculum for Wales.

The Welsh government did consult with teachers, parents and other interested parties before this decision was made.

  • In October 2019, the Welsh Government held a consultation on Ensuring Access to the Full Curriculum for all pupils. However, 88.7% of respondents in this consultation agreed with retaining the right to withdraw their children from RE and RSE.
  • A series of pilot studies were commissioned for the 2021-22 academic year and in 2021 a second consultation was held. These proposed the removal of the right to withdraw. In this second consultation, 60.0% of respondents disagreed with the proposal to remove a parental right to withdraw.

A summary of the responses to the second consultation can be found here: Relationships and Sexuality Education guidance and Code summary of responses November 2021 (gov.wales). 

 

How can I find out what my child's school believes, practices and teaches?

It is right and reasonable that you know what your school believes, what it is practicing and what it is teaching your child! A school will often have a statement of its values and a set of policies which describe how it operates. These are in addition to the curriculum. They will also have a way by which these statements are developed and reviewed. Parents, teachers and governors all have different roles to play in these processes. 

 

1. You can expect to be involved by your school in development of the curriculum

The statutory guidance for RSE, issued by Welsh government encourages schools to share information with parents and families about their delivery of the curriculum.

Working with parents, carers and stakeholders is part of the Welsh government's guidance for schools when designing their curriculum. 

  • "In developing their curriculum, schools should involve learners, parents, carers, partner agencies and the local community. This is an important means of ensuring the curriculum meets learners’ needs and is authentic to their context within the national framework. Schools and practitioners also play a critical role in ensuring learners, parents, carers and communities understand the vision and ethos underpinning the curriculum". (see Implementation and practical considerations, accessed 6th February 2023)
  • "Schools should maintain clear lines of communication with parents and carers throughout their child’s academic journey." (see RSE Information for Schools Settings Parents and Carers, page 3 - released August 2022)

For more information about the legal challenge to clarify the extent of parental responsibility see the Frequently Asked Questions page.

 

2. You can access school policies, curriculum and materials

It is good practice for schools to allow parents to see up to date and comprehensive information about curriculum, lesson materials, policies and statements of values and beliefs. These are often held online, sometimes through a secure hub for parents. They may also be available on the school premises in hard copy.

It is reasonable for an interested parent to ask to see any of this information and review it at a time and place that is mutually convenient for the school and parent.

Statutory guidance says that teachers should share examples of RSE resources and schemes of work with parents. It is important that parents and carers feel comfortable to openly share their thoughts and feedback on the school curriculum and policies. 

  • "It should be ensured that all resources to be used in schools and settings are relevant, reputable, developmentally appropriate, inclusive and sensitive to learners’ needs. Schools should share examples of the resources they plan to use with parents and carers in order to reassure them and to enable conversations, where appropriate, to be reinforced and continued in the home." ("Cross Cutting Themes for Designing Your Curriculum", hwb.gov.wales, accessed 25th January 2023)
  • "Communicating effectively with parents and carers on an ongoing basis is an important way to foster positive relationships in order to engage them in purposeful and meaningful dialogue. When undertaken well, this can help aid learner progression by helping parents and carers to understand how they can support learning within and outside the school environment." ("Cross Cutting Themes for Designing Your Curriculum", hwb.gov.wales, accessed 25th January 2023)

 

3. What to do if I have questions about the school policies, curriculum or materials I have seen

If you cannot access your child's school policies, curriculum or materials, you can ask the school directly. If you are able to access these and you have questions or feedback which you wish to raise, you can contact the school.

  • You can contact the school to ask any questions and/or provide any feedback to a relevant member of staff. You can also request to have a meeting with the relevant member of staff to discuss your thoughts or concerns in person.
  • You can write a letter to the school’s Head Teacher or Governor/s expressing your concerns or requesting further information.
  • You can arrange a meeting with the Head Teacher, Governor/s, or the school’s RSE lead to find out about the school's policies.  
  • If you are dissatisfied with the school’s response to your concerns or would like to raise a particular issue, then you can contact your Member of Senedd or Member of Parliament. 

If you live in Aberconwy or have a child who attends a school in the constituency, you can contact me here.

Note: Some requests for information have been rebuffed by schools on the grounds that the "material is copyrighted". This is not how copyright works - copyright law exists to protect material that is in the public domain.

 

For background information click here.

More information for teachers.

More information for governors.

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This page was updated on: 30th October 2023.