What is a Parental Contribution?

If your Local Authority has written to tell you that they will be making a Statutory Assessment of your child, then they will ask you if you would like to give your views. This is called the Parental Contribution. If you want to send a Parental Contribution you can do so straight away by writing on the form they sent. Some people write it out on a separate sheet of paper. If you want more time then you need to write on the form “Parental Contribution to follow.” You have up to 6 weeks from the time that you received their letter to send in your Parental Contribution.

What to include in the Parental Contribution

The Local Authority will have sent you a pack of information which should contain a sheet with guidance for writing your Parental Contribution. It is useful to follow their headings, but you may also find the following ideas help you to think about what to write. If you will have difficulty in doing this yourself then contact Parent Partnership Service to ask for help.

Opening lines
Write “Parental Contribution to Statutory Assessment” at the top.
Give the date, your child’s name, date of birth and school.

Your child’s history  - (sometimes called “The Early Years”)
This does not need to be long, you can just include the main points:
 Any difficulties that your child had when they were young;
 What their progress was like compared to other children of the same age;
 When you first had concerns;
 What advice/help (if any) you have received and from whom (this can include details about any diagnosis or therapy your child has received).

What your child is like now - 

How do your children compare with other children of the same age?

Physical skills -
For example: How well can your child walk, jump, climb, do jigsaws, draw, use tools, write, catch.

Relationships and behaviour -
Think about what your child’s mood is like, both at home and at school (as far as you know). You may want to note changes to their relationships and behaviour when they have been at school.

Communication -
You may have noticed whether your child can understand what people are saying, remember what people have said, pass on messages, explain and describe things to other people or join in conversations. You may also notice whether your child’s level of speech is appropriate for their age.

General Health -
Think about difficulties with eating, sleeping and general fitness. Does your child see a consultant or therapist, and are they on medication or a special diet? Has your child had a serious illness or accident, and do they have many absences? Does your child need careful supervision for medical reasons?

Self help and independence -
Can your child dress, feed, wash and toilet himself/herself? How do they cope with routine and organisation?

At school
• How well does your child learn and remember?
• Does your child like school and make progress?
• What does your child find easy/hard/enjoyable?
• Are there any difficulties such as bullying or refusing to attend?
• What has the school done to help your child and have you been able to support the school to help them?

Your views
• How does your child compare with others of the same age?
• What are your main worries and concerns?
• What do you think are your child’s special needs and how do you think these can be best provided for?
• Are there any changes at home which may affect your child (such as bereavement, divorce, house move)?
• Are there circumstances which may make it difficult for you to help your child as much as you would like (such as language spoken at home, reading or writing difficulties, other family responsibilities, work obligations)?
• How easy do you find communicating with the school?
• How do your child’s needs affect the needs of the whole family?

Your child’s views
Your child may wish to give his/her views. These could include:
 What they think are their main difficulties;
 What are their main worries;
 Whether they are happy at home and at school;
 Whether they have friends;
 What they think they are best at;
 What help would they find useful;

Aim to finish discussions with your child on a positive note.

Other reports and advice
The Local Authority will be asking for up-to-date advice from any professionals who see your child. However, you can put in any advice that you think that they may not have received, or any independent reports that you have had done.

Check that you have included
 Your child’s name, age and school
 Problems and difficulties as you see them and what the situation is now
 Your views, and what you believe your child needs
 Your child’s views if possible and what he/she thinks would help
 Any other useful reports or paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I write?
This is up to you; some people feel comfortable writing a few lines, others write several pages. Remember that the Statement with all the reports is usually very long. If your Parental Contribution is quite long it is a good idea to write a “Summary” of your main points at the beginning

I wrote all this when I asked for Statutory Assessment. Do I still need to write a Parental Contribution?
Yes - the Local Authority will not automatically include your first letter. If you want them to use this as your Parental Contribution you should tell them to do so. If you used a Word Processor and saved it then you can obviously copy this. However do check that you have not missed any important points.

Should I hand-write it or use a computer?
It doesn’t matter, as long as what you write is clear and understandable. Everyone understands that people are short of time, so they will not be checking your spelling and use of English. Whether you use a computer or hand-write it though, it is a good idea to keep a copy of what you have written.

Do I have to use medical or educational terms?
Not if you don’t want to – use your own words. This is about what you, as a parent, have noticed. Of course, there may be times when it helps to use a particular word, such as a diagnosis.

Do I have to write something in every section?
No -you do not need to write something in every section, only those that are relevant to the way your child is now. For example you would only need to write much about “The Early Years” if your child is still young. In most cases it is enough to summarise any early assessments, treatments, diagnosis, or if there were any difficulties that affected early education.

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Parent Partnership Service - Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin
Telford & Wrekin CVS - Registered Charity Number 702589