Disability discrimination and equality legislation have greatly strengthened the protection of pupils against discriminatory treatment since the mid-1990s. Nabil Dance provides a basic introduction to some rules and how they affect primary schools


As a teenager, I vaguely recall the first substantial discussion of disability discrimination in the media which was sparked by incidences of blind customers being banned from bringing guide dogs into convenience stores.

To its credit, the government implemented legislation in 1995 to prevent precisely this kind of treatment. The UK was one of the first states to adopt anti-discrimination law, and it would go on to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2009.

In terms of how they treat disabled persons, schools, the media, companies, political parties, and the public at large have significantly changed since then. The law, too, has evolved to further reinforce this change. The Equality Act of 2010, and other legislation, have placed numerous obligations on schools relating to their treatment of disabled pupils.

Register now, read forever

Thank you for visiting Headteacher Update and reading some of our content for professionals in primary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.

What's included:

  • Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcasts

  • New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here