A New Way Of Handling Parents’ Complaints About School Issues

On 24 September, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families announced an imminent consultation on a new way of handling parents’ complaints to their child’s school. The consultation will run for eight weeks, closing on 21 November. The Children’s Plan committed the Government to look at ways of improving the current arrangements for parents’ complaints. The consultation invites comments on handling parents’ complaints to their child’s school affecting their child, including those which concern bullying. The DCSF is asking for views on ways to improve: handling of complaints at school level; the place of mediation services to resolve disagreements early on; and possible new arrangements to consider complaints that cannot be resolved at school level. The DCSF looks forward to hearing the views of as many people and organisations as possible including parents, parents’ organisations, governing bodies and governors’ organisations, local government, schools, teaching and support staff including professional bodies, and those with SEN interests.