Social media: how to deal with negative comments or behaviour by parents and carers

Use our internet acceptable use agreement to help prevent inappropriate social media use by parents/carers. Get tips on how to respond to issues, and download our template letters to address incidents and make your expectations clear.

Last reviewed on 8 December 2023
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 6226
Contents
  1. Download our internet acceptable use agreement for parents and carers
  2. Use a parent code of conduct to set expectations
  3. Publicise your policies on complaints and behaviour
  4. Download our template letters to respond to incidents
  5. Headteachers can ban parents/carers from the school site
  6. Taking legal action

Follow the steps below to set expectations for parents/carers' social media use, and make it clear how your school will respond to any incidents if they happen.

If an incident has already happened, see the second half of this article, from ‘Download our template letters to respond to incidents'.

Download our internet acceptable use agreement for parents and carers

Our model agreement sets clear guidelines and expectations on how parents/carers should use social media or other internet forums when they communicate with or about your school.

It covers parents/carers' use of:

  • The school Facebook page
  • Personal social media accounts
  • Private groups or channels (e.g. class Facebook pages or WhatsApp groups)
KeyDoc: model internet acceptable use agreement for parents DOC, 178.0 KB

You can't require parents/carers to sign an acceptable use agreement, but making one available can