Back to School Guide for Unmarried Parents
For many single and unmarried parents, back-to-school season brings unique challenges. Aside from financial pressures, there are additional concerns surrounding custody, guardianship, and communication with schools.
At Treoir, we aim to provide practical advice and support for unmarried parents on navigating these issues.
This guide offers essential information on financial supports and explains unmarried parents’ rights in education.
Whether dealing with guardianship rights or custody arrangements, staying informed can make the school year smoother for both parents and children. Read on for helpful tips and resources.
Financial Supports for Non-married and Lone Parents
For one-parent families and non-marital families, the financial burden of sending kids back to school can be significant. However, there are some supports for unmarried parents available to ease this burden;
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA)
What is BSCFA?: The BSCFA is a payment for low-income families, to assist with the costs of school uniforms and footwear.
Eligibility Criteria: Available to parents receiving qualifying social welfare payments, participating in employment schemes, and within the set income limits.
How to Apply: Some families receive this automatically (on July 8th 2024 ). If not, applications are open from 12 June to 30 September 2024. You can apply online at MyWelfare.ie.
Free Schoolbooks Schemes
Primary Schoolbook Scheme: Provides free schoolbooks, workbooks, and digital resources to all pupils in recognized primary and special schools
Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme: Provides free schoolbooks to students in the Junior Cycle of secondary schools (that have opted in)
We advise you to check your child’s school to see if they are participating in these schemes
One-Parent Family Payment (OFP)
What is OFP?: This payment is designed for unmarried and lone parents, raising a child under 7 years old without the support of a partner.
Eligibility: You must be aged under 66, be the main carer, be living in Ireland, meet specific income limits and not cohabit with a partner.
How to Apply: Fill out the One-Parent Family Payment application and send it along with your supporting documents to your Intreo Centre or local Social Welfare Branch Office.
Working Family Payment (WFP)
What is WFP?: This is a weekly, tax-free payment designed to support low-income families who are in paid employment.
Eligibility: You must be an employee, your family must have at least one dependent child, and your weekly income must fall below the set income limits for your family size.
How to Apply: Apply online or submit a paper application to your local social welfare office.
As the school year goes on, it’s important to keep track of your costs and revisit any budgets you may have created for any remaining expenses like extracurricular activities, lunches, or additional school supplies.
For advice on managing back-to-school expenses, including budgeting tips, financial planning, and how to access support like the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, check out MABS’ guide here.
Schooling and Unmarried Parents’ Rights
When it comes to your child’s schooling, it’s important that you understand your rights as an unmarried parent, especially for Guardianship.
What is Guardianship?
Guardianship is the collection of rights and duties that a parent may have in respect of a child. As a guardian, you have the right to access your child’s educational records, receive school reports, and attend parent-teacher meetings, regardless of your marital status.
Legal Guardians are entitled to:
- Be consulted by the school in regard to educational welfare of their child
- Notice of formal parent teacher meetings
- Copies of school reports
- Notice of meetings with NEPS, SENO etc.
- Notice of in-school/after-school programmes
- Notice of school closures
Who has Guardianship Rights?
A mother automatically has guardianship rights of her child, married or unmarried. However, unmarried fathers in Ireland do not have automatic guardianship rights as they are not automatically considered a guardian upon the child’s birth. (To learn more about how unmarried fathers can become a guardian, click here).
When a father is recognised as a legal guardian, this grants him the right to make important decisions regarding his child’s education.
Despite this, many schools may not be aware that an unmarried father, as a legal guardian, has the right to receive school reports, attend parent-teacher meetings, and be involved in key decisions.
Our Recommendations
At Treoir, we recommend that if the unmarried father is a guardian, that he informs the school and where possible provides the school with confirmation of his guardianship. This could be from the mother or a solicitor’s letter. Court orders should not be sought by the school, as these documents are confidential to the parties named. Without this, schools may assume the father does not have guardianship rights, potentially leading to communication issues.
The father can request to receive all correspondence related to his child’s education directly to him from the school. Both parents should receive school reports, even if they live apart, ensuring they are equally informed about their child’s progress.
It is also important to note that non-guardians cannot sign consents for the child unless specifically permitted by the custodial parent, ensuring that only those with legal authority are making decisions on behalf of the child.
Custody
Custody arrangements play a crucial role in how schools interact with unmarried parents. When parents share custody, it’s important for schools to be informed of the specific arrangement.
In joint custody situations, schools should be made aware of the schedule so they know which parent will be collecting the child on certain days and who to contact in emergencies.
It’s also essential for both parents to provide the school with up-to-date contact information and clarify any specific agreements, such as alternating attendance at school events.
Where there is sole custody, the custodial parent generally has the final say in school-related matters, but the non-custodial parent still retains the right to receive information about the child’s education, provided they are a legal guardian.
Schools are obligated to keep both parents informed unless there is a legal order restricting one parent’s access
Additional Resources for Unmarried and Lone Parents in Ireland
- Citizen’s Information: Access legal advice on guardianship, financial supports, and various rights through Citizens Information website.
- Family Mediation Services: Mediation helps parents address co-parenting challenges and create effective parenting plans that support their children’s well-being.
Navigating the school year as a single or unmarried parent can be challenging, but with the right supports and resources, it becomes manageable. By understanding your financial options and parental rights, you can ensure your child’s school experience is positive and stress-free.
Remember, Treoir is here to provide support for unmarried parents as they navigate guardianship, custody, and their child’s education.
If you would like more information or to speak to one of our information officers, give us a call on 01 6700 120 or email info@treoir.ie