Information Sheetfor Parents / Guardians

Optional statements are highlighted turquoise – delete if not applicable to your study (then delete all advisory text)

[Study Title]

INFORMATION SHEETFOR PARENTS / GUARDIANS

Ethics Approval Reference: [Insert]

In partnership with researchers at the University of Oxford, your child’s school has agreed to take part in a study investigating [insert research question/aim here]. We would like to invite your child to be part of this study. We very much hope you would like your child to take part, but before you decide, it is important that you understand why the study is being done and what it will involve.

What are we trying to find out?

[The background and aim (research question) of the study should be given briefly and simply here.]

Example:

This project is looking at how children learn to read. We are especially interested in how children’s spoken language skills help them learn to read and write. We already know that children’s awareness of the sounds of their language (for example, their knowledge of nursery rhymes and the sounds of letters) is important when they come to learning to read words. The ultimate goal of reading, however, is not just to read words, but also to understand what has been read. Unfortunately, we know very little about how reading comprehension develops. This project will help us to understand how children learn to comprehend. We hope that our findings will allow us identify methods to identify ways of helping children who find learning to read difficult.

More information about the project is available on our website /can be obtained by contacting the research team (contact details overleaf) [delete as appropriate].

Why has my child been invited to take part?

We are inviting your child to take part because they are a young person, aged between [x and y years], attending [insert school/institution name here]

We are inviting zzz [insert number of participants] young people to take part.

Does my child have to take part?

No. You can ask questions about the study before deciding whether or not to allow your child to participate. If you do agree to participation, you may withdraw your child [and their data] from the study at any time, without giving a reason and without penalty, by advising the researchers of this decision.

What will happen if my child takes part?

This section should be written in clear, lay language and include:

• how long the young person will be involved in the research;
• how long the research will last (if this is different);
• how often they will need to attend visits, meet a researcher, complete questionnaires etc.;
• where and how long these visits/tasks will be;
• what exactly will happen e.g. access to personal information/samples, questionnaire, interview, discussion group, measurement, sample collection, photographs/video/audio recording etc.
• It should be made clear what the young person’s responsibilities are during the study, especially if they have to do anything at home e.g. questionnaires / diaries
• Use the most appropriate format (tables, diagrams, photos etc.). The detail required will depend on the complexity of the study. It may help if the information is displayed in a simple flowchart or grid indicating what will happen at each visit rather than lengthy lists in the text.
• Long-term monitoring/follow-up should be mentioned (if applicable)

What are the advantages / disadvantages of taking part?

[If there are benefits these can be stated but should not place undue influence on the parent/guardian. Where there is no intended benefit, or no risk, this should be stated clearly].

What happens to the results of the study?

Results for each child are kept strictly confidential. Only a number will be used to identify children, and all information and results are kept in [add secure location, e.g. a locked filing cabinet] in the University. Third parties may be given access to research data for monitoring and/or audit of the study, or for data storage purposes. Regular summaries of our findings will be given to the school and will be available to interested families.

[Add publication arrangements/plans], e.g. If you agree to participate in this project, the research will be written up as a thesis. On successful submission of the thesis, it will be deposited both in print and online in the University archives, to facilitate its use in future research. The thesis will probably be published with [insert here information on the type of access and what that means, e.g. open or restricted access (or closed or embargoed access on application), open access meaning available to every internet user].

We also aim to publish our findings in scientific journals, but this may be two to three years from the end of the study. [If applicable] We will ask all participants for their permission to use direct quotes.

All research data and records will be stored for a minimum retention period of [x] years after publication or public release of the work of the research. [Note that the University require a minimum of 3 years, but certain funders may have other requirements – see

What will happen to any samples taken from my child?

[If applicable] We will use your child’s samples to/for…

Who is conducting this research?

The research project is organized by [insert researcher name] of Oxford University, who is a [insert status]. The research is funded by the [insert relevant funders’ name]. This study has been reviewed by, and received ethics clearance through, the University of Oxford’s Central University Research Ethics Committee, [insert CUREC reference number].

What if there is a problem?

If you have a concern about any aspect of this project, please speak to the relevant researcher ([insert tel. no.]) [or their supervisor ([insert tel. no.]), where applicable] who will do his/her best to answer your query. The researcher should acknowledge your concern within 10 working days and give you an indication of how he/she intends to deal with it. If you remain unhappy or wish to make a formal complaint, please contact the chair of the Research Ethics Committee at the University of Oxford who will seek to resolve the matter in a reasonably expeditious manner.

Chair, Medical Sciences Inter-Divisional Research Ethics Committee; Email: ; Address: Research Services, University of Oxford, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD

OR

Chair, Social Sciences & Humanities Inter-Divisional Research Ethics Committee; Email: ; Address: Research Services, University of Oxford, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD

OR

[For applications reviewed by the Oxford Tropical Research Ethics Committee (OxTREC), please insert the contact details for the local ethics committee that has reviewed your study]

What should I do next?

Please fill in the enclosed form and return it to your child’s class teacher if you would/would not[delete as appropriate for opt-in / opt-out studies]like your child to take part in this study. Please remember that you may withdraw your child at any time, without penalty and without giving a reason, by notifying the researcher. If you would like to discuss the research with someone beforehand (or if you have questions afterwards), please contact:

[Insert Researcher Name]

[Insert Department Name]

[Insert Department Address]

Tel: [Insert Number]

Email: [insert address]

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