Parental Responsibility Form

[soph24]

Hi

My sons nursery has given me a form relating to parental responsibility and asked for a copy of his birth certificate. I find this intrustive have they a right to ask?

I realise I am only sensitive about the subject because of my own circumstances. My husband is the only father my son has know - we have been together since he was 3 months old but he is not his biological father.

But I really do not think this is any of the nursery's business.

thanks
soph

on our contract forms the parent says who is allowed to pick up a child, if they say they do not want the father to pick up legally you have to ask for the court order.
However this is not what this is about.
I think it is out of order, what if that nursery staff told anyone and it became gossip.?

Seriously - the staff won't bat an eyelid. And what is there to gossip about? A man bringing up a child that's not his is hardly unusual these days. If that sort of gossip goes on in your nursery nurseryvoice then maybe you should counsel your staff about confidentiality.

Why would the nursery staff care though? We have all kinds of parents at our nursery - married, single, gay etc - and no-one bats an eyelid.

I can't imagine our manager or office staff rushing down to tell the nursery nurses that so-and-so is a baby's stepdad either.

no that sort of gossip does not go on in my nursery. I just tend to agree with the poster.

Childminder contracts have to include "parental authority" as well now for legal reasons. It does feel like prying IMO but I understand why it's in place.

BTW when my DD was in nursery out of 30 children their was only my DD and one other child who lived with their biological parents, who cares, the staff certainly didnt bat an eyelid. I think in this day an age you would probably have to be living with a very close family member to even raise an eyebrow. like this

The staff, if they find out, which if it's a good nursery they wont, will just think what a great bloke your DH is for being a fab dad.

I am a teacher myself I realise our situation is not 'news' these days and even if it is I do not really care about gossiping. My point is just that is non of anyones business. And there will not be ab issue with his father trying to pick him up or anything like that

I just think it is intrusive. Do we as a society need to know everyone elses business. It is so big brotherish.

Also on the point about birth cert or passport - I am happy to supply the passport so they have proof of id - if that is required for funding in the future - but as previously we do not get any grants etc at the moment as he is only 2.

Yep soph24 I agree very big brotherish, we will be walking around with micro chip things in before much longer.

Funding is available for 2yr olds shortly 10hrs per week, perhaps this is why they have requested the documents now.

Also I think the parental responsibility issue came about to cover medical emergencies as well, as consent is needed in case of treatment / medical proceedures.

Well in terms of who can consent to medical treatment etc it is myself and my husband as far as iam concerned and that matter as far as his biological father is concerned. But the form goes on about how u can only have parental responsibility if you are biological child or have adopted the child.

unfortunately soph, what you say is true. I don't think there is any way your DH can have PR unless he adopts your son.

I have just had a good serch of the internet. There seems to be no legal reason for this asing for the birth certificate. There is stuff about needing to see the id (passport ot bc)but nothing I can find where their is a rule that they need it for the kids.

On the form the nursery clains it is required for 'safegaurding children'. I cannot find anything on safegaurding children that states that it is needed.

safeguarding will be wanting to know who has PR, so only those with it give permission, think this will be the case.

I do understand that you think it's intrusive soph but if the child's dad has parental responsibility under the law then he has some rights that nursery/school have to afford him. It's not up to nursery to decide whether he'll pitch up and demand those rights so they have to know who is who within the family set up.

Sorry - mean't to add, as far as the legality of it there's stuff in the Education Act 1996 about schools being required to know the full name and address of anyone who is the parent of a pupil ( or words to that effect). It does extend to nursery schools but not sure about other Early Years settings.

Thanks everyone for your help

In case anyone is interested!!! I have just actually rang ofsted and asked them if it seeing a birth certificate is actually a statutory requirement as the form the nursery gave me states. I was told NO it not something that is needed. Ofsed would want to know that details of who is allowed to collect the child is recorded but that is it.

As my nursery is part of a chain - I think I will bring the matter up with head office rather than rocking the boat with the on site staff.

I'll let you know how I get on!

By the way I have worked in secondary school that have insisted on seeing birth certificates. It is going to happen a lot, ny Dc nursery have gone through this recently - maybe same chain? The only person who saw the birth certificate wqas the manager not any of the staff but Pr was recorded on the system.

Ofsted only covers the welfare requirements as you said about who can collect etc. But and its a big But, if your DS biological father does go to collect your son the nursery cannot refuse (without court order) - I know you said that this is unlikely but the nursery will want to cover all eventualities. WRT seeing the birth Cert I would imagine it will be for the funding element rather than anything else.

It is a legal requirement of the EYFS for childcare providers to ask parents who has parental responsibility for a child in their care. The main reason is that if a parent says that a child's other parent cannot collect the child but they have parental responsibilty then the childcare setting cannot legally stop that parent from collecting the child. We can stall and say we'll call the parent who the child lives with but unless there is a Prohibited Steps order against the absent parent then we can't stop them. If there is a prohibited steps order against the absent parent then we can call the police if necessary if they turn up to collect. By asking for your son's birth certificate the nursery are trying to safeguard your son. I would be very surprised if you were the only family to be asked for a certificate I imagine it is their policy to ask all parents and so I don't see why you wouldn't want to show your son's birth certificate to be honest. Your husband unfortunately does not have parental responsibility but I believe that he can apply for it even if you ex won't let him adopt.