How to create an effective school newsletter

Help to build a strong partnership between school and home with clear and focused newsletters. Use our templates to audit your parent/carer communications, plan your newsletters, and enable staff to contribute high-quality stories that highlight pupil learning.

Last reviewed on 3 February 2026
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 38575
Contents
  1. Understand the value of your newsletter 
  2. Review your communication channels first
  3. Put 1 person in charge of the newsletter
  4. Set a delivery frequency
  5. Define the newsletter format
  6. Use our template to create a plan for each edition
  7. Include a message from senior leaders 
  8. Include conversation prompts for parents/carers
  9. Make it easy for staff to contribute
  10. Check you're reaching parents/carers
  11. See examples from other schools

Understand the value of your newsletter 

Your newsletter may be the most regular and reliable piece of communication parents/carers receive from your school. 

It can be a powerful tool for building a strong home-school partnership by:

  • Highlighting essential practical information
  • Reinforcing shared goals and values
  • Sparking meaningful conversations
  • Fostering a sense of community

It can help parents/carers feel like active, informed partners in their child's education and the wider school community.

Read more about building home-school partnerships in our article on parental engagement strategies

Review your communication channels first

If parents/carers receive multiple messages from your school via email, your school app and printouts, there's a chance they may not know where to look for important information.

Use our communication audit to:

  • Identify the ways you communicate with parents/carers
  • Define the purpose of each communication method
  • State the owner and sign off requirements
  • Clarify the frequency

Review all the tools you currently