Parent at end of term, different (6)
I believe the answer is:
mother
'parent' is the definition.
(mother is a kind of parent)
'end of term different' is the wordplay.
'end of' indicates one should take the final letters.
'different' becomes 'other' (similar in meaning).
The final letter of 'term' is 'm'.
'm'+'other'='MOTHER'
'at' is the link.
(Other definitions for mother that I've seen before include "Be overprotective" , "She gives birth" , "Female parent" , "Fuss over" , "Parent to her Tom, oddly" .)