Legislation
There is specific legislation in the UK that helps protect those that are the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and discriminated against. This legislation helps ensure that the treatment of those concerned is fair, equal and lawful.
Human Rights Act 1998
The Human Rights Act sets out the fundamental rights and freedoms of UK citizens. The Act incorporates European rights and protections. All public bodies (and those which carry out associated duty functions) must comply with the legislation. Visit the for more information.
The Equality Act 2010
is the most significant piece of equality legislation for a generation. It simplifies, streamlines and strengthens law, ending the tangle of equality legislation. It consolidates discrimination law within a single Act and aims to end the discrimination that blights so many people’s lives.
The Alliance has produced a publication called the for early years settings to assist them both in their provision of services for children and families and in their employment practices.
Children and Families Act (2014) and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice (2015)
states that to achieve better education outcomes, all children and young people should be entitled to an education that enables them to achieve. This means equal participation of children, young people and their parents in decisions being made about services, and an improvement in educational outcomes.
Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 relates to the provision of children with special educational needs and disabilities. Since September 2014, all funded early years settings must have regard for the new Code of Practice, which sets out the provision of the new Act. The Code was updated January 2015.
Want to find out more about these changes?
The Alliance has produced a free mini guide in on the SEND Code of Practice and published a book to help settings understand the law and support their practice.