Parental separation doesn’t have to mean poor outcomes for children, but the way that the separation is handled matters.
If we had a blank sheet of paper and were designing a package of support for a child whose parents are separating, that child’s school would of course play a fundamental role in that plan.
That’s why in 2025 we asked teachers across the UK what they are seeing on the ground when it comes to working with separated parents and outcomes for children. Here’s what we found:
The 'Five to Thrive'
It can be hard to know what to prioritise with regards to children and making sure that they are OK. Here are five simple principles that parents and schools can focus on which we believe will provide the best platform for children to thrive after separation. We call them the ‘Five To Thrive’.
1. Holistic communication strategy
Parents and school should agree a joined-up communication strategy in which the parents have a transparent dialogue with the school around all school and home matters. No disagreements should be had at school or around the child(ren).
2. Friendship groups
Parents and school should talk with each other about changes or concerns in the way the child’s friendship group may be changing or being impacted.
3. School work and attendance
During a time of parental separation, there are additional pressures however schoolwork, homework and attendance will always be important. Parents and school to encourage children in all aspects and have an agreed approach to homework routines between both households.
4. Mental health
Parents and school should keep a close eye on the mental health and wellbeing of the child(ren), and the school should ensure that the child(ren) have access to pastoral support with a nominated member of staff at the school.
5. Sports and hobbies
Parents and school to ensure the child(ren) continue to participate in school extra-curricular activities as this is important to their wider well-being.
Why this is so important
When asked about the impact of parental separation on children, teachers have seen separation affecting:
Academic Performance
79%
of teachers reported an impact on academic performance.
School Attendance
79%
of teachers reported an impact on school attendance.
Mental Health
94%
of teachers reported an impact on children’s mental health.
The 5 Changes
Our survey shows that dealing with separation is a real safeguarding issue for children and with this information, we began thinking about what schools need to provide the best possible support for the children in their care.
Parents to keep school as an important safe space for children and not bring disagreements to school.
All schools to have clearly communicated separation policies in place.
Educational professionals to have training and resources available to understand children’s rights and needs in the context of separation and school.
All schools to have nominated safeguarding leads for separation to best support children during this time.
Parents and schools to embrace the five to thrive principles to make a practical difference to young people experiencing family change.
Parent and Teacher Resources
We realised that we needed to help parents to understand how they separate is so important to the wellbeing of, and outcomes for, their children.
So, we set about about creating resources to better support teachers, parents and children through their journey. The resources are all available here.
Sir Andrew McFarlane