The Parents Promise - Separation and education survey for education professionals

The Parents Promise is a group of organisations, and individuals, who believe that all children deserve the most positive experience possible during parental separation or divorce.

Our aim is to create a genuinely child-focussed society and better systems to ensure the long-term wellbeing of children when parents separate. The Parents Promise Education Project will look at parental separation and school and what resources could be created to better support children, parents and educational professionals.

For more information on our members and our previous work visit our website www.theparentspromise.org.uk

All information collected is confidential/anonymous

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* 1. What type of school are you in?

Nursery

Primary

Secondary

Sixth form

SEN

Other

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* 2. Are you in the private or state sector?

State

Private

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* 3. What is your position? Tick all that apply.

Teacher

Head teacher

Deputy head teacher

Safeguarding lead

Teaching assistant

Governor

Other

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* 4. When do you most commonly find out about a divorce or separation between parents?

Before the child is told

Once the child has been told but shortly after the decision to separate has been made

Several weeks, or even months, after the decision to separate has been made

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* 5. As a general rule, do you find it easy to communicate with separated parents about their child

In all cases

In 75% of cases

About 50% of the time

In about 25% of cases

Almost never

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* 6. When communication with separated parents is difficult, what are the main issues you encounter?

One parent trying to exclude the other when it comes to communication with the school

One parent trying to exclude the other, or other family members from picking up a child from school

Such high conflict between the parents that school is forced into a time consuming and stressful intermediary role

Where there are safeguarding issues, the relationship between school and the parent becoming very strained

Parents not engaging with the school at all

In private schools, communication increasingly difficult as to whether fees will be paid as a result of separation

Other (please specify)