Written Agreement Between Parent and Kinship Carer: Template Guidance for England

When a child moves in with a grandparent, aunt, or other relative under an informal arrangement, a written agreement between the parent and the carer is not legally required — but it solves a surprising number of practical problems. Schools ask for evidence of who can make decisions. GP receptionists want to know who is authorised to bring the child in. And the parent retains Parental Responsibility throughout, which means the boundaries of what you can and cannot do need to be clear.

Why a Written Agreement Matters

Under English law, Parental Responsibility cannot be transferred by a private agreement. What a parent can do, under Section 2(9) of the Children Act 1989, is delegate the day-to-day exercise of their responsibilities to someone else — including a relative carer. A written agreement formalises that delegation and gives schools, health professionals, and local authority staff something concrete to work with.

Without a written document, you may find yourself repeatedly explaining the arrangement to every new receptionist, teacher, or administrator you encounter. A clear letter signed by the parent shortcuts that conversation.

What to Include

A practical written agreement between a parent and kinship carer in England should cover these areas:

The child's details. Full legal name, date of birth, NHS number if known, and the address where they are now living.

The parent's details. Full name, relationship to the child, contact details, and a statement of the legal basis for their Parental Responsibility (for example, as the birth mother, a father married to or in a civil partnership with the mother at the child's birth, a father jointly registered on or after 1 December 2003, or through a court order).

The carer's details. Full name, relationship to the child, and the address where the child is living.

Scope of delegated authority. This is the most important section. List the specific day-to-day decisions the parent is authorising you to make — for example:

• Communicating with and collecting the child from school
• Attending routine health appointments (GP visits, dental check-ups, immunisations)
• Signing consent forms for school day trips within the UK
• Receiving school reports and attendance records
• Making routine decisions about the child's daily care

What remains with the parent. State clearly that the parent retains Parental Responsibility and that the agreement does not cover major decisions such as elective surgery, changes to the child's name, international travel, or permanent changes to the child's education.

Emergency arrangements. Include contact numbers for the parent and a second emergency contact. Specify that you should seek emergency help without delay if the parent cannot be reached; clinicians can provide immediately necessary treatment under common-law necessity, and Section 3(5) covers your reasonable welfare actions.

Duration and review. A start date and a review date (commonly annual). State that either party can end the arrangement at any time and that the parent can withdraw consent by notifying the carer in writing.

Signatures. Both the parent and the carer should sign and date the agreement. While witnessing is not legally required, having signatures witnessed by an independent person — a teacher, social worker, or GP — increases administrative acceptance when presenting the letter to institutions.

What This Agreement Cannot Do

A written family agreement does not grant you Parental Responsibility. It does not bind any third party who is legally required to obtain consent from a PR holder. It cannot override a parent's express refusal. And it does not change the child's legal status in any way.

Think of it as a practical tool, not a legal instrument. Its power lies in giving schools and GP practices clear, written evidence that the parent has agreed to the arrangement and delegated specific day-to-day responsibilities.

When a Written Agreement Is Not Enough

If the parent is uncontactable, refuses to sign, or has had Parental Responsibility restricted by a court, a private written agreement cannot fill the gap. In those situations, a court order — typically a Child Arrangements Order or Special Guardianship Order — becomes the safer route for long-term security.

The complete England kinship consent guide includes detailed guidance on structuring delegation letters, along with the school, GP, and medical consent steps that follow.

See more England guides →