Introduction
The family may have already requested the files from the school or other services, either in writing or verbally.
Subject access request
The family may not realise that they have made an SAR. However, any request that is plainly a request for personal information should be treated as a request under the subject access procedures, even if it is not labelled as such. SARs can be made in writing or orally.
It will be helpful to ask the family about any requests they have made and ask them to provide you with any requests that were made in writing. If a request for information was made verbally, make a note of the date, as this will help you obtain the records more quickly. You can count the time limit for the SAR as starting from the date the first request was made.
Freedom of information request
Similar rules apply to FOI requests. An FOI does not need to be correctly labelled to be a compliant request. However, an FOI request does need to be made in writing.
It will be helpful to ask the family about any requests they have made and ask them to provide you with any requests that were made in writing. If they made them orally, you will need to make a fresh FOI request in writing.
Downloads
- To write to the young person or parent with more information about making an SAR, consider using the Suggested Wording document: Making a subject access request
- To write to the young person or parent with more information about making an FOI, consider using the Suggested Wording document: Making a freedom of information request
Next step?
Once you have checked with the family if they have any outstanding information requests, continue to the next step.
