Education laws and advice

Laws and government guidance

The Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005
Law protecting disabled people from discrimination in education. It also strengthens the rights of children with special educational needs to be educated in mainstream education.

Support for pupils with medication needs
Department of Education guidance for schools on supporting pupils with medication needs.

Further advice

Education Authority
Information for parents and schools about special educational needs.
Website: eani.org.uk/

Special Educational Needs Advice Centre (SENAC)
Offers advice, information and advocacy for parents of children with special educational needs.
Website: senac.co.uk/
Tel: 028 9079 5779

Laws and government guidance

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004
Provides the legal framework for identifying and addressing the additional support needs of children and young people who face a barriers to learning. The Act has been amended by the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009, the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, and the Education (Scotland) Act 2016.

Additional support for learning: statutory guidance 2017
Government guidance for schools and local authorities on supporting pupils with additional support needs.

Equality Act 2010
Protects children with epilepsy from disability discrimination and sets a legal duty on schools to make reasonable adjustments. Also see our information about epilepsy and your rights.

Further advice

Enquire
The Scottish advice service for additional support for learning.
Website: enquire.org.uk/
Helpline: 0345 123 2303

The Scottish Government website
Information on additional support for learning, including contact details of advice organisations.
Website: gov.scot

Laws and government guidance

Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018
A new law that should start to take effect in 2021. The law is meant to improve the system for getting children’s additional learning needs recognised and supported.

Supporting learners with healthcare needs
Government guidance on what schools should do to support pupils with healthcare needs.

Equality Act 2010
Protects children with epilepsy from disability discrimination and sets a legal duty on schools to make reasonable adjustments. Also see our information about epilepsy and your rights.

Further advice

SNAP Cymru
Advice and support to families of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Website: snapcymru.org/
Helpline: 0808 801 0608