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    • Responsibility

    Parental Responsibility

    All the RIGHTS, DUTIES, POWERS, RESPONSIBILITIES and AUTHORITY which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his/her property. Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 Article 6(1)

    The law says schools should keep persons with parental responsibility informed about their children's education by:

    • Sending them all copies of their child's annual report.
    • Inviting them all to the school to discuss their child's progress.
    • Involving them all in decisions about their child's education.

    The law says that all persons with parental responsibility for a particular child must be treated equally.

    Getting Parental Responsibility

    When actual parents are unmarried the law says only the mother has parental responsibility for the children, but an unmarried father can get his share of parental responsibility either by: -

    • Jointly registering the birth of the child with the mother (applies on or after 15th April 2002)
    • Marrying the mother
    • Signing a legal agreement with the mother
    • Getting a Parental Responsibility Order from the court

    Other adults who live with a child, like step-parents, co-parents or grandparents can get a share in Parental Responsibility by asking the court for a Residence Order. This gives them responsibility and authority for the child as long as they stay living together.

    The original parents only ever lose their share of Parental Responsibility when their child is adopted. They always hold Parental Responsibility, however many other people share it with them.

    Why getting Parental Responsibility matters

    • You are able to have a say in decisions about the children in your family. Schools have to consult with you first when making decisions on such things as admissions, transfer, GCSE options, etc.
    • It will help teachers, doctors and others to know who to contact when decisions have to be made.
    • It can strengthen the relationship between you and the children you look after.

    Those without Parental Responsibility

    The law also says that people who care for children but do not have Parental Responsibility, e.g. stepparents, other relatives or foster parents should take sensible everyday decisions for their best welfare.

    Keeping the school informed

    Family circumstances can keep changing. Schools need to know what these changes are and if any court orders have been made which will affect the child(ren)’s education. Pupil's records need to be kept up to date.

    Please let schools know:

    • What court orders already exist?
    • When a new court order is made
    • Whenever people with parental responsibility change address

    Getting further advice

    If your family includes step-parents or unmarried fathers who would like to know how to get PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY ask at your:

    • Citizen's Advice Bureau
    • Law Centre/Solicitor
    • County or Magistrates Court

    Your school's Education Welfare Officer can also help you to find the right advice.

    For advice on how the Children Order can affect your child's education in Belfast please contact the Education Welfare Service.

    In the North

    93 Cliftonville Road

    Belfast BT14 6JQ

    Tel:  02890351320/351149/741646

    In the South and East

    Ulidia Resource Centre

    Somerset Street

    Belfast BT7 2GS

    Tel: 02890491578/491058

    In the West

    Whiterock Library

    195 Whiterock Road

    Belfast, BT12 7FW

    Tel: 0289024 7966/234096/238770

    Belfast Education and Library Board

    Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 parental responsibility

    The Children (Northern Ireland) order 1995 became law on the 4th November 1996. It aims to strengthen the relationship between parents and their children even if parents have separated, or divorced, or even if the courts have said there should be no direct contact.

    The Children Order also gives children rights to be listened to whenever welfare decisions are make about them, and sometimes the right to take their own independent action through the courts.

    Schools and parents

    The law says schools must register the names of actual parents if married, because they each hold PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY for their children. Parental responsibility never ends even if the parent no longer lives with the child, unless there has been an adoption. It is still held by each parent even if they are separated or divorced. The law also says schools must register the names of any other person having parental responsibility for a child. Teachers cannot care for your child properly unless they know who, under the law, has responsibility and authority for him/her and where they live.

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