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Legislation
Dictionary page

Legislation in England is made by Parliament. This broad legislative framework consists of:

  • Statutes (Acts);
  • Statutory Instruments (Regulations, Orders and Rules).

Statutory Instruments are supported by guidance.

Statutes
Signed legal contract with pen
                  alongside

Statutes (sometimes referred to as 'primary legislation') form the backbone of UK legislation and provide courts with the principles upon which government policy is enacted.

 

Significant statutes that apply to children/young people with disabilities and/or special educational needs include the:

Statutory Instruments
Neo classical columns of a legal establishment

SIs provide further detail, such as procedures and timescales.

 

They are often termed 'secondary legislation', but carry the same legal force as statutes.

 

For example, The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 include the legal requirements concerning the making and review of Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans under the Children and Families Act 2014.

Guidance
Lady Justice at the Old Bailey,
                  London

Guidance may include Codes of Practice and Standards. Guidance may be statutory or non-statutory (often termed practice guidance).

 

It is possible to choose alternative actions from those laid down within guidance without contravening the law. This is under the proviso that actions taken, or not taken, can be justified.

 

In general, where a statute or SI instructs to 'act in accordance with' a set of guidance, then there is little reason for not doing so. If the instruction is to 'have regard to', then there is more room for flexible interpretation. However, this does not mean that the guidance can be completely ignored.

Duties and powers
Neo classical columns of a legal establishment

Legislation can be implemented by individuals and organisations through actions that they:

  • Are required to undertake (these are duties); or:
  • May decide to undertake (these are powers).

These are sometimes referred to, respectively, as mandatory ('must', 'shall') and permissive ('may') gateways.

When to use powers

Although a 'power' might not always be used, it should never simply be 'put to one side'. Every time that a situation occurs where a power can be used, the agency holding the power (eg a local authority) must decide whether or not it is appropriate to exercise that power.

 

For example, local authorities may have the power to provide a specific children's/young people's service, eg laundry assistance. Even if the authority is struggling to provide services, it is not legally allowed to ignore this power.

 

Instead, having referred to the guidance, the local authority may then, after considering each child/young person, determine that it will provide these services to all, some or none of the children/young people within its area. It cannot, however, choose not to consider whether the services are relevant for each child/young person.

Changing legislation
Dictionary page

The legislative framework in England has a fluid nature. New Acts and Regulations are formulated every year. These may:

  • Stand alongside existing legislation; or
  • Make changes to existing Acts; or
  • Remove existing Acts from the statute book.

Changes in government policies will often require new statutes to facilitate changes in practice.

Legislative context questions (1)
Q

In the light of what you have read, which of the following may be SIs?

  • Regulations;
  • Acts;
  • Orders;
  • Policies;
  • Practice guidance;
  • Rules.
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the correct answer.
Legislative context questions (2)
Q

If a local authority has the legal power to carry out an assessment of the needs of all children/young people within its area, then it:

  • Must assess all children/young people within its area;
  • May assess all children/young people within its area;
  • May assess some children/young people within its area;
  • Can ignore this part of the legislation;
  • Must assess only some children/young people within
    its area;
  • May assess none of the children/young people within
    its area.
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Legislative context questions (3)
Q

Is the statement 'The law in England does not reflect international treaties':

  • True; or
  • False.
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Legislative context questions (4)
Q

The decision of a Court of Appeal can form the basis of future legal judgements. This judgement is typically referred to as:

  • An Order;
  • Good practice;
  • Case law;
  • Convention.
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