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| Questionnaires |
All questionnaires must:
- Make clear if the data request:
(a) has a statutory basis;
(b) must be complied with; or
(c) may be responded to on a voluntary basis.
- Briefly explain the purpose of the information request; who is best placed to complete e.g. headteacher, bursar, head of year in schools, or in children's services, social worker, social care personnel etc; how the information gathered will be used; whether the individual school/LA data will be regarded as confidential or shared with others; and how the findings will be made available.
- Include a sentence to indicate that a stringent consideration process has preceded the exercise and provide a contact name and number in the Department for any enquiries, comments or complaints (for example: 'This questionnaire has been checked to ensure that the minimum possible information is requested. Also, that it is as easy as possible for you to provide. If you have any comments, queries or complaints please contact...').
- State on the questionnaire the amount of time that it is expected the recipient will realistically need to complete the request, ideally based on information gathered in previous exercises or in a pilot.
- Include appropriate school or LA details on the form - or electronic equivalent - which is sent to the school or LA.
- Allow four weeks (not including school holidays) for the schools or LAs to reply. (This can be dropped to two weeks when collecting data from LAs, but only if it is absolutely certain that they will not need to gather the data from schools). Children's social care collections are normally allowed two months to reply.
- Use the approved DCSF design format for data collection exercises. For details of this, see 'Working with our Schools Communication Framework' issued to Divisional Managers and Team Leaders. For further assistance contact Peter Sargeant in the Schools Communications Unit. For assistance with production of electronic questionnaires in the correct format, contact Roger Edwards (ext 62234).
- You should also give due consideration to Equal Opportunities issues; Data Protection; and Languages (e.g. if the target audience is disabled; concerned about who will have access to their personal data; or if their first language is Welsh. Can they be guaranteed the questionnaire will be in a format they can access?)
- The above criteria should also be applied as appropriate to telephone questionnaires.
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