Terms and Conditions
Section 1: Definitions
Client:
The individual or entity purchasing membership, accreditation, training, advisory or parent services from Parent-Friendly Schools via Parentkind Trading Ltd.
Schools(s):
The educational institution(s) participating in the service process, which may include primary, secondary, or other academic establishments.
Contact Person:
The designated representative of the organisation responsible for communication with Parent-Friendly Schools.
Assessor:
A professional employed by Parent-Friendly Schools to evaluate Silver and Gold accreditation applications.
Consultant:
A professional employed by Parent-Friendly Schools to support schools through an annual accreditation subscription.
Endless Support:
The term "endless support" is limited to:
- The use of the Standard Award assessment tool and resultant action plan.
- Access to resources, support and network found within the Parent-Friendly Schools app.
- Access to free learning materials provided by Parent-Friendly Schools.
Annual membership:
The yearly fee paid by the Client to maintain access to Parent-Friendly Schools' services, including accreditation status. The subscription period commences upon receipt of payment.
Assessment:
The process of evaluating a school’s adherence to Parent-Friendly Schools' standards, which may include online surveys, video assessments, and/or in-person evaluations. Schools receive a personalised report and action plan based on their assessment.
Accreditation Levels:
Standard Accreditation:
A level of accreditation requiring each participating school to complete the standard online survey process. Multi-Academy Trust accreditation requires accurate representation of all schools within the Trust.
Silver Accreditation:
A level of accreditation requiring each participating school to complete the video assessment process. Multi-Academy Trust accreditation requires accurate representation of all schools within the Trust.
Gold Accreditation:
The highest level of accreditation, requiring key personnel to be made available to the assessor within a reasonable timeframe. The Client is responsible for coordinating these meetings.
Parent-Friendly Schools:
The entity providing accreditation services, which reserves the right to adjust pricing annually and revoke accreditation under specified conditions.
Personalised Report and Action Plan:
A customised feedback document outlining findings and strategic recommendations for the Client following an assessment.
Renewal:
The process of extending accreditation without reassessment, available for two consecutive terms. Upon the third renewal, reaccreditation is required.
Reaccreditation:
A reassessment required after the third renewal to maintain accreditation at the current level.
Fair Usage Policy:
Services must be utilised in accordance with their intended purpose. Abuse or misuse of services, including unauthorised use of accreditation materials, may result in penalties or revocation of accreditation.
Primary School:
A school educating students aged 3 to 11. Any school with ten or fewer teachers will be classified as a primary school, regardless of student ages.
Secondary School:
A school educating students aged 11 to 19. Schools covering ages 3 to 19 are classified as secondary schools for pricing purposes.
Section 2: Terms of Use
Access to Services:
Clients have access to assessments throughout the year and may respond to questions as needed. Each submission generates a new personalised report and action plan. Fair usage applies.
Completion Deadlines:
Silver Accreditation video submissions must be completed within 30 days of invoice payment. Late submissions may incur additional fees equivalent to the annual subscription cost.
Assessment Fees:
Fees for Silver and Gold Accreditation cover the assessment process and do not guarantee accreditation.
Price Adjustments:
Parent-Friendly Schools reserves the right to adjust prices annually.
Payment and Subscription Activation:
- Invoices must be paid within 30 days.
- Access to the accreditation portal is granted upon full payment.
- The subscription period begins at the time of payment, not upon completion of the accreditation process.
- Clients will receive a renewal reminder 30 days before expiration.
Trust Parent-Friendly Status and Accreditation Progression
A Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) is eligible to achieve Trust Parent-Friendly Status once all schools within the trust have successfully achieved the Standard Award. Each individual school must meet the required parent-friendly standards before the Trust can be recognised at the Trust-wide level.
This condition also applies to Trusts seeking to progress to Silver and Gold accreditation levels: every school within the Trust must first be accredited at the corresponding level before the Trust can be awarded Silver or Gold Parent-Friendly Status.
Trusts are granted 12 months of access to the Accreditation Portal from the date of enrolment to enable all schools within the Trust to complete and submit their accreditation requirements. If all schools do not meet the required standard within the 12-month period, further access or reassessment may be subject to additional fees.
Automatic Renewal:
Accreditation may be renewed twice without reassessment. Renewal fees are based on the current accreditation level.
Reaccreditation upon Third Renewal:
- Upon the third renewal, the school must undergo reassessment at the current Standard, Silver, or Gold level.
- Downgrades following reassessment do not entitle the Client to a refund.
Training Discount for Partner Schools
Schools that hold current Accreditation Partner status are eligible for a 50% discount on all training services offered. This discounted rate is exclusive to partner schools as part of their ongoing commitment to the accreditation programme. Schools that are not accreditation partners will be required to pay the full standard rate for all training services. Proof of partner status may be requested at the time of booking.
Non-Renewal Policy:
If accreditation is not renewed:
- The school must remove Parent-Friendly Schools' logos and branding from its website, stationery, and promotional materials.
- Failure to comply may result in fines up to ten times the original subscription cost for misrepresentation.
Accreditation Transfers and Mergers:
- Accreditation is non-transferable between schools.
- If a school merges with a non-accredited institution, accreditation is revoked, and the new entity must complete the accreditation process at an additional cost.
- Schools joining or leaving a Multi-Academy Trust must undergo independent accreditation within three months for the Multi-Academy Trust to retain its MAT Parent-Friendly Status.
Name Changes:
Schools undergoing a name change may retain accreditation if no substantive changes are made to organisational structure. Parent-Friendly Schools will reissue an updated certificate upon request.
Additional Services:
Optional services, such as training, mediation, or advisory support, are available for an additional fee.
Pre-Accreditation Checker:
A free tool offering a preliminary indication of accreditation level. This is not a guarantee of accreditation.
Accreditation Discount Offer
Subscribers to the Standard Award are eligible for a 30% discount on either the Silver or Gold Accreditation if they choose to undertake the additional accreditation within 12 months of their initial Standard Award subscription date. This discount applies to the follow-up accreditation only and cannot be combined with any other promotional offers. To redeem this offer, participants must ensure they are within the eligible time period and notify the accreditation team at the time of registration for the additional level.
Silver Accreditation Eligibility and Improvement Period
If a school applies for Silver Accreditation and is assessed to be below the required level for the Standard Award, detailed feedback will be provided outlining the areas for improvement. The school will then be granted the remaining time of the 12-month improvement period from the initial assessment date. During this time, the school may work on addressing the feedback and, once ready, may resubmit their evidence and go back through the Accreditation Checker at no additional cost. Support resources may be provided or recommended to assist in meeting the criteria. If the school does not meet the standard within the 12 months, a new application may be required.
Section 3: Compliance and Ethical Standards
Ethical Conduct:
Clients must maintain high ethical standards, fostering positive relationships with parents, students, and staff. Unethical conduct may result in accreditation revocation.
Reporting Obligations:
Clients must inform Parent-Friendly Schools of any changes that may impact accreditation status, such as the discontinuation of parent engagement policies or departure of key personnel.
Truthful Communication:
All information provided to Parent-Friendly Schools must be accurate and truthful. Misrepresentation may result in sanctions or accreditation revocation.
Negative Publicity and Media Reports:
Accreditation may be revoked if a school receives media attention for parent-related conflicts or conduct that negatively impacts the Parent-Friendly Schools brand.
Inspectorate Reports:
Accreditation may be revoked if official evaluative bodies (e.g., Ofsted) issue reports indicating poor parent engagement practices.
Branding Removal Upon Revocation:
If accreditation is revoked, the Client must immediately cease using Parent-Friendly Schools' branding and promotional materials. Non-compliance may result in fines.
Legal Compliance:
Clients must comply with applicable laws and regulations. Legal violations may result in accreditation revocation.
Non-Discrimination Policy:
Clients must uphold principles of equity and non-discrimination. Violations may result in sanctions.
Penalties for Non-Compliance:
Failure to adhere to these terms may result in fines, accreditation revocation, or legal action.
Section 4: Indemnification
Parent-Friendly Schools Indemnity:
Parent-Friendly Schools indemnifies Clients against claims, losses, or damages arising from its services during the contract period.
Client Indemnity:
Clients indemnify Parent-Friendly Schools against any claims, damages, or legal actions resulting from contractual breaches, negligence, or unlawful activity.
Section 5: Media and Data Usage
Research and Case Studies:
Parent-Friendly Schools may use anonymised data for research purposes. Identifiable data will not be published without prior consent.
Use of School Name, Location, and Logo:
Clients consent to Parent-Friendly Schools using their name, location, and logo for marketing purposes.
Data Protection:
Client data will be handled in accordance with UK GDPR and ParentKind’s Privacy Policy.
Data Transfer Risks:
Parent-Friendly Schools is not liable for data loss or leaks during information transfer between Clients and assessors.
