How to Request Your Child's School Records From the DfE

If you are trying to secure extra support for your dyslexic child, you know how much paperwork it takes. You might be preparing for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) assessment. You might be appealing a decision, or simply trying to understand what support has been recorded in the past.

To do this, you can request your child's complete national educational history directly from the Department for Education (DfE) for free. This is called a Subject Access Request (SAR). You do not need to pay a fee, and you do not need a lawyer to do it.

Here is a simple, step-by-step guide on how to ask the DfE for these records and how to use them to help your child.

Why you might need your child's official DfE records

Schools keep their own local records. However, the DfE also holds a national database of your child's educational journey.

Getting these records can help you in several ways:

• It provides an official timeline. You will see exactly when your child was flagged for support.
• It helps with school transitions. If your child is moving to a new school, you have a complete history to hand.
• It assists with exam accommodations. Having a clear, official record of long-term struggles makes it easier to ask for extra time in exams like Key Stage 2 SATs.
• It strengthens your advocacy. If you are appealing a decision, official government data is highly reliable evidence.

If you are currently preparing for primary school milestones, you might also find our calm guide to KS2 SATs dates and low-stress prep helpful for managing exam anxiety.

What data does the Department for Education hold?

The DfE processes and stores specific personal data about pupils in England. According to the DfE's privacy information for parents, carers and legal guardians, the department holds information in the National Pupil Database (NPD).

This national record typically includes:

• Personal details like your child's name, date of birth, and Unique Pupil Number (UPN).
• Attendance records and any history of exclusions.
• Special Educational Needs (SEN) status and provisions.
• National curriculum assessment results and exam grades.

This data is collected from school censuses throughout your child's time in education.

Step-by-step: How to make a Subject Access Request (SAR)

You have a legal right to see this data. You can request it by making a Subject Access Request directly to the DfE.

According to the official guidance on requesting your personal information from DfE, here is the step-by-step process:

1. Gather your proof of identity

To protect your child's privacy, the DfE must verify who you are. You will need to provide digital copies of:

• Your ID (such as a passport or driving licence).
• Proof of your address (such as a utility bill from the last three months).
• Proof of your parental responsibility (such as your child's birth certificate).

2. Contact the DfE

You can submit your request in a few ways. The easiest way is to use the DfE's online contact form.

You can also write to them by post at:

Ministerial and Public Communications Division Department for Education Piccadilly Gate Store Street Manchester M1 2WD

3. Write your request clearly

Keep your message simple. You do not need to use complex legal language. You can use this simple template:

"I am writing to make a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act 2018. I am the parent of [Child's Full Name], born on [Child's Date of Birth]. I wish to request a copy of all personal data and educational records held about my child in the National Pupil Database (NPD). Please find attached my proof of identity and proof of parental responsibility."

What to expect: Timelines and documents

Once the DfE receives your request and verifies your identity, they must respond.

By law, they have one calendar month to send you the records. If your request is highly complex, they can extend this by up to two additional months, but they must write to tell you if they need more time.

When the files arrive, they may look like a long list of codes and spreadsheets. Do not feel overwhelmed. Look specifically for columns marked "SEN", "Attendance", or "Assessment". These will show you the exact dates your child was registered as needing SEN support.

How to use this information to support your child

Once you have these records, you can use them to build a strong case for your child's classroom accommodations.

• Share them with the SENCO. Bring these documents to school meetings to show the history of your child's needs.
• Highlight gaps in support. If the records show your child was flagged for SEN support years ago, but the school has not put accommodations in place, you can use this to ask why.
• Address school avoidance. Sometimes, a lack of early support leads to children feeling anxious about school. If your child is struggling to attend, you might read our guide on why struggling readers avoid school to help rebuild their confidence.

If you are looking for simple, practical ways to practice reading at home without the stress, you might also want to try our app, Lexy. Lexy is a multisensory structured literacy app designed to help children practice phonics and build reading fluency at their own pace. It is not a formal diagnosis or a replacement for school support, but it is a calm, daily tool to help your child feel successful.

Getting your child's national records is a powerful first step. It puts the official facts in your hands, helping you advocate for the support your child deserves.