NASUWT Representatives

www.nasuwt.org.uk65lladvance equality of opportunity between people who sharea protected characteristic and those who do not;foster good relations between people who share a protectedcharacteristic and those who do not.Existing policies, procedures or practices should be evaluatedto ensure that they comply with the PSED and GED.Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001It is unlawful for schools, colleges and LAs to discriminateagainst disabled pupils, students and adult learners in theprovision of their education. The Special Educational Needs andDisability Act was introduced to strengthen the legal frameworkthat underpins equality of opportunity for disabled pupils andstudents in their access to education and applies to current orprospective pupils.Under the provisions of the Act, the governing body of a schoolmaintained by the LA is the ‘responsible body’ and is thereforeultimately liable for the actions of all its employees and anyoneworking within the authority of the school. The duties coveradmissions, education and associated services and exclusions.All schools/colleges should have received a copy of the relevantNASUWT Code of Practice illustrating the new duties. NASUWTRepresentatives should make themselves familiar with theprovisions of the Code of Practice alongside the NASUWTguidance, which is available from the NASUWT Headquarters.Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)The EHRC, a statutory body established by the Equality Act2006, brings together the work of the three previouscommissions: the Commissions for Racial Equality (CRE), theDisability Rights Commission (DRC) and the EqualOpportunities Commission (EOC). It enforces equality legislationon age, disability and health, gender, race, religion or belief,sexual orientation or trans status and encourages compliancewith the Human Rights Act 1998.NASUWT Representatives should ensure that members areencouraged to record and report all forms of bullying andharassment, regardless of nature, to school management sothat effective action can be taken. All reported cases ofdiscrimination should be referred to the Local AssociationSecretary or Regional Centre.Implications for NASUWT RepresentativesAs well as ensuring that their local school/college/servicecomplies with the provisions listed above, NASUWTRepresentatives may be approached by individual members foradvice. The NASUWT Casework Code of Practice must befollowed and members should be advised to keep diary recordsof incidents and to pursue issues via the appropriate school orcollege policy. If an NASUWT member raises an issue ofFor advice and help ˚ Local Association ˚ Regional Centre ˚ National Executive